he United States Department
of Defence (DOD) has explained why its air operation
to assist Nigeria in locating and
rescuing the kidnapped Chibok
school girls is based in Chad rather
than on the Nigerian soil.
Chad shares a substantial part of
its western border with north eastern Nigeria, the operational base of
Boko Haram terrorist group, which
Secondary School, Chibok, Borno
State.

!
"
#
!$"#% "&
strengthen international assistance
would be based in Chad. That is
more so, as the UK, which has de'
***
lance plane - The Sentinel - in the
search for the girls, also said the
!!

The Sultan said the misconduct of the sect is against
the teachings of the Holy
Prophet who promoted
peaceful co-existence during his life time.
The Sultan made this
terday during the unveiling
of a modern Mosque built
by the Islamic community
at Bodija.
The Muslim leader, who
condemned the criminal
activities of Boko Haram es-

pecially the abduction of
school girls and their forceful conversion to Islam,
described the action as ungodly and un-Islamic.
He charged the Islamic
adherents to let the society
know that Boko Haram members are not Muslims but
criminals, adding that their
actions are barbaric and inhuman.
Chairman of the Islamic
community, Alhaji Tiamiyu
Giwa, said:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;At this juncture, our community condemns in strong
terms the tragic incidents
of bombing, abduction and
killings in some northern
states of Nigeria in the last
couple of years.â&#x20AC;?
He, therefore, condoled
with victims of viscious attacks and their families. According to him, Islam is a
religion of peace which abhors violence in any form.
Continue on Page 3

t

T

he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Muhammed Abubakar,
has declared that Islam is
vehemently against forceful
conversion of persons to become adherents.
The Sultan was speaking
against the backdrop of reports that Boko Haram insurgents had forced Christians
among the Chibok school
girls to convert to Islam.

de

Olusakin Babalola, Ibadan

G
P lo
In ull-O ss
si u y

Islam is against forceful conversion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sultan

2

Saturday Newswatch, Saturday, May 24, 2014

Cover
Soldiers kill 2 Boko
Haram suspects in
Katsina

T

he Army, yesterday,
announced the killing
of two suspected Boko
Haram members in Katsina
State.
rian Army in Katsina, Col.
Alhassan Gerema, made the
announcement while speaking with newsmen in Katsina.
He said that troops raided
a house at Filin-Polo Quarters

!
"# $%
The commander said two
suspected Boko Haram members died during the operation, adding that one other
member was arrested.
Witnesses said that troops
surrounded the hideout of
the terrorists and exchanged
&
!&"%
Residents have reportedly
vacated the area, following
the incident.

Gunmen raze
Borno village

G

unmen suspected to
be members of the
Boko Haram extrem ' " (
Kimba town in Gur ward of
Biu Local Government Area
of Borno State, killing three
"
% ) ( " edly took place on Thursday
evening.
) ( Saturday
Newswatch further learnt,
burnt down almost half of
the village and also shot three
persons who are currently receiving treatment at Biu General Hospital.
A resident of the community, Mallam Umar Kimba, was
quoted as saying that every
' *
to seek refuge in Sabon Gari,
! * +
Girau and Biu.
According to Kimba, the
( !
community on motorbikes on
)&
sporadically before torching
the village.
He said the gunmen, while
destroying the village, were

calling on youths to come out
and join in the Jihad against
'
corrupt politicians.
He continued: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When nobody went out to meet them,
they started burning our
houses. It was then that those
who hid inside their houses
started coming out and run
&( & "
them. I left Sabon Gari this
morning (yesterday) but we
had taken the wounded to the
hospital in Biu before I left.â&#x20AC;?
However, Kimbaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major
worry, which he voiced out
anyway, is that there are military formations around that
area but wondered how the
insurgents managed to by" (
village.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;They did not touch the
house of the village head,
and security operatives came
only when they had burnt
everything and chased everybody out of the village,â&#x20AC;? he
lamented.

Why U.S operational
base is in Chad
Continued from Page 1

the situation signals a no!
!'
powers on Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s security
agencies.
But dispelling the impression, Army Col. Steve Warren,
Director of Pentagon Press
Operations, said the UAV
system and Air Force personnel were deployed not to Nigeria but neighbouring Chad
under an agreement with the
Chadian government, to allow the aircraft spend more
time in the air.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flying these aircraft from
3

! '
!
search time over potential
Boko Haram camps in Nigeria
and surrounding countries,â&#x20AC;?
the DOD spokesman said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thankful for cooperation from the government of
Chad and our international
partners for this basing agreement,â&#x20AC;? according to a report
'

'
American Forces Press Service.
He further disclosed that,
â&#x20AC;&#x153;this is the third system that
weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put into Chad in addition to (systems that have)

been providing (intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance, or) ISR up until
Wednesday.â&#x20AC;?
Following an agreement
reached between Nigeria and
the US for assistance to rescue
the kidnapped girls, President Barack Obama of the
United States had on May 21,
as required by the War Pow6
3gress of the deployment of
Air Force personnel to Chad
in a letter to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and
the President of the Senate.
The letter read in part: â&#x20AC;&#x153;These
personnel will support the
operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
aircraft for missions over
northern Nigeria and the surrounding area. The Force will
remain in Chad until its support in resolving the kidnapping situation is no longer
required.â&#x20AC;?
The American Forces Press
Service quoted another Pentagon spokesman, Army Lt.
Col. Myles B. Caggins, as
saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The team in Chad is
there in support of one of our
ISR assets -- an unarmed, un-

manned aerial vehicle that is
helping to support the search
for the students.â&#x20AC;?
He assured that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the majority of the Air Force personnel
are dedicated to the launch,
recovery and maintenance
of the aircraft,â&#x20AC;? adding that
â&#x20AC;&#x153;weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll continue to evaluate
the resources we might bring
+
in close consultation with the
Nigerian government.â&#x20AC;?
Also on May 21, during a
hearing on Boko Haram before
the US House of Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
! +
78
Dory, announced that â&#x20AC;&#x153;DOD
is taking action to help the
1

the students and address the
growing threat posed by Boko
Haram.
She said the DODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial
+
Nigerian security personnel
to identify gaps and shortfalls
and provide requested expertise and information, including ISR.
She added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also
working closely with the
U.K., France and other inter-

national partners in Abuja
to coordinate multilateral
actions. Our intent is to sup 1

*
+
safely recover the girls and
! '9
+
secure the population of Nigeria from the menace of Boko
Haram.â&#x20AC;?
She disclosed that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;along
with other U.S departments
and agencies, DOD has been
engaging for some time with
the government of Nigeria
to help build its capacity to
respond,â&#x20AC;? stating that in late
April, the DOD began working with Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newly
created counterterrorism-focused ranger battalion. This,
she said, was in addition to
the DOD and the U.S State
Department working closely
with Nigeria to enhance security along Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s borders
with Chad, Niger and Cameroon, to counter the Boko Haram threat. She said the idea
behind this is also to build
border security capacity and
promote better cooperation
and communication among
each countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s security force
to reduce Boko Haramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operational space and safe havens.

hairman of Kaduna
State
Chapter
of
12&
31
4+1&+(
to ensure that their children
acquire western education,
stressing that its importance
in the present day cannot be
over stated.
He said education is very
important to any child, stressing that without education, it
! &
& 5
any sector of the society.
++(!"(ing in Kaduna yesterday, at a
reception ceremony organ6
+( &
to welcome home their son,
+%7
+(!
retired as Deputy Controller
General of Customs.
He further stressed that
while some people see western education as sin, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we see
it as a welcome development
"&
+( 8
Government Area.
His words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We in Ma( '
!
makes us important in this

state is western education, because we accept it and know
its importance in our lives.
So I am calling on parents to
ensure that their children acquire western education, in
order to become important in
future.â&#x20AC;?
He commended retired
DCG Garba Bala for assisting indigenes of the town to
enroll into customs service in
their hundreds.
+(&
the town to continue praying
5
in his future endeavours.
In his remarks, Controller
7
&
Service, Mr. Abdullahi Dikko
Inde, described the celebrant
& %
He added that the retired
! "
"
of the ongoing reforms in the
Service.
Expressing his apprecia
7
+( mended Comptroller Dikko
for transforming the Customs
service in terms of revenue
generation for the socio economic development of the
country.

he United Kingdom
(UK),
yesterday,
described as a welcome development the
inclusion of Boko Haram
on the United Nationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
sanctions list.
The UN Security Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Al Qaeda Sanctions
Committee had on Thursday approved the inclusion of Boko Haram on its
list of groups subject to

!
!tions.
Speaking in a statement
made available by the
British High Commission
in Abuja, the UK Foreign
Secretary, William Hague,
said his country has
shown its strong support
for securing the listing
and co-sponsored Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I welcome the listing of Boko Haram by the

UN Security Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Al
Qaeda Sanctions Committee. Boko Haram is an
inhuman
organisation,
which has no respect for
religion or belief or a personsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; right to decide their
way of life. Attacks by
these violent extremists
!
+
communities across Nigeria.
/0
country to proscribe Boko

Haram and was pleased
to support Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demand that the UN take
action. At the Paris Summit on Security in Nigeria, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighbours,
the UK, U.S and EU all
agreed to pursue sanctions against Boko Haram
at the UN. This demonstrates the international
communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support for
1

2 + !
terrorism,â&#x20AC;? he said.

3

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Islam is against forceful
conversion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sultan
Continued from Page 1
Also in his own address, the guest lecturer at the event, Prof.
Abdul-Ganiyy Oladosu
berated the insurgent
group for converting
the abducted girls to Islam.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was surprised when
I saw the pictures of the
innocent girls bearing

Christian names being
converted as Muslims;
this is not Islamic injunction, but an aberration,â&#x20AC;? he said.
Also speaking at the
event, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, said the construction of the Mosque has
brought the presence of
Islam to the community
and its environs.

Boko Haram: Nigeria
is at war â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jang
)
Jos

P

lateau State Governor, Jonah Jang,
lamented yesterday in Jos that the unabated reign of terror by
the murderous Islamist
sect - Boko Haram - has
placed the country in a
war situation, adding
that until they are defeated, Nigeria would
not know peace.
Jang was speaking in
Jos while inspecting the
scene of Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twin
bomb blast in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
market.
Describing the bombers as enemies of the
country,
Jang
said
nothing can stop President Goodluck Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aspiration for
next year.
Said he: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria is
at war, and this is the
worst kind of war to
fight, as you do not
know your enemies.
Many of those who attack us are mostly from
outside Plateau State,
or outside the country.
They bring their bomb
materials from outside
and assemble here in
our State.
He continued: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When
they come here, they
donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay on trees, they
stay in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s houses
and even the bombs are
assembled in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
houses. Why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we
be patriotic enough to
report them to the authorities?â&#x20AC;? he asked.
Thus, he urged security chiefs in the
country to rally round
President
Goodluck
Jonathan in fishing
out the sponsors of the
group.
Also,
the
governor urged Jonathan
to take a decisive action against those that
boasted that they will
make the country ungovernable for the present
administration,
adding that nothing
will stop Jonathan from
winning next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
presidential elections.
The governor, who

returned from a trip
abroad, said he was
told that the casualty
figure from the bombing had risen to 78,
adding that some of the
bodies were mutilated
with some parts missing. According to him,
â&#x20AC;&#x153;up till now we cannot estimate how many
people suffered that
devastation, but the final figure will come if
members of the public,
after sometimes, do not
see their relations and
understand that they
were here, then we can
collate the number; that
means that the number
will go higher.â&#x20AC;?
The governor challenged residents of the
State to be security conscious and vigilant, and
report suspicious characters or movements
around them.
Jang, while advising
politicians to stop playing politics with human lives, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am
disappointed the way
some politicians in the
country treat President
Goodluck
Jonathan.
Some of those criticising Mr. President cannot proffer solutions
to the insecurity in the
country.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some were in government before and did
not do better, but all
they do is play politics
with disasters. Whether they like it or not,
President
Goodluck
Jonathan will win the
2015 elections by the
grace of God.â&#x20AC;?
He said before the
present state of insecurity in the country
escalated, there were
some persons who had
vowed that they would
make the country ungovernable.
He, therefore, suggested that such persons be arrested and
made to explain the import of their statement.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nobody is untouchable in the country,â&#x20AC;? he
fumed.

resident
Goodluck
7 {!
'
handed over the signed
Appropriation Act 2014 to
the Coordinating Minister for
the Economy and Minister of
Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, for implementation.
President Jonathan was
said to have endorsed the
budget on Wednesday, having been passed as an enabling Act by the National
Assembly and transmitted to
him about a month earlier.
At the event, only the President, Minister of Finance and
the Director General of the
0
|{! }8 0

Okogu, were reportedly present.
Okonjo-Iweala was said to
have been absent when the
President endorsed the budget, thus necessitating the formal handover to her. Shortly
after, the President left Abuja

for South Africa, according to
Presidency sources.
The President had withheld assent to the budget until two days ago, following alleged grave distortions of the
document by the National
Assembly, a development
the Executive described as
serious, adding that it would
have a negative impact on its
implementation.
Presidency had explained
that the delay in tidying up
issues bordering on the 2014
budget was due to discussions between the Executive
and the leadership of the National Assembly to harmonize the distortions made by
the later in the Appropriation
Bill presented to it by President Jonathan last year.
While Jonathan had proposed an Appropriation Bill
of N4, 642, 960, 000, 000, the
National Assembly passed
N4, 695, 190, 000,000, about
N52, 230 billion higher.

But yesterday, none was
available to give details about
the current state of the budget
after the harmonisation of the
copy passed by the National
Assembly.
0
& ~ 3respondents on the outcome
of the Federal Executive
Council (FEC) meeting two
weeksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ago, the Information Minister, Mr. Labaran
Maku, had said it is sad that
the budget had taken long in
!
+!8
~
!
the areas of distortion in the
budget were very serious and
that they could have negative
impact on its implementation
if not addressed.
~
 / _
Finance briefed us today at
the FEC relating to the progress on the budget. It is very
sad that we have almost entered the middle of the year
and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a budget.
It is, indeed, sad that the

budget has taken so long in
coming, and practically, we
have less than seven months
to execute it.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will do everything
possible to reconcile the few
+!
what was transmitted to the
government by the National
Assembly.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a few areas
of distortions and there are
those areas that are very serious and we think there is
need to look into them because of the negative impact
those distortions may have
on the implementation of the
budget.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a lot of conversation going on now between
the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly on these issues. And
very shortly we believe that
we are going to reconcile
budget will be announced to
the nation by the President.â&#x20AC;?

inister of Finance,
Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, announced
yesterday that the Federal
Government has disbursed
N130.7 billion to the defence
sector from January to April.
Okonjo-Iweala made this
known in Abuja while briefing newsmen during the
breakdown of the 2014 budget signed by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.
She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Defence spending is top in everything; you
know that the military establishment needs new things
to assist them in their work
+8
No budget will be enough to
meet their demands but for
now, I think the sector takes
almost a trillion of the budgets.
/ !
! '
about N968.127 billion and
we have disbursed N130.7

billion between January and
April 2014,â&#x20AC;? she said
The minister explained
that N85.9billion out of the
amount disbursed was for
personnel cost, saying that
the military paid its personnel
because it was yet to be integrated into the IPPIS.
Okonjo-Iweala said N3.8
billion approved by the President was being processed
and would soon be released,
adding that there were other
additional spendings.
She said the delay in the
passage of the budget would
not hamper the running of
the economy.
The minister said that the
law gave the executive the
power to spend up to 50 per
cent of the budget pending its
approval.
``That is exactly what we
have done and you know we
have disbursed N200 billion

[ \]
based on what the law allows
us to do.
^^&+!
'
may be relatively minimalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;,
she said.
Okonjo-Iweala said the
2014 budget had focused on
many policies that would be
!
!'
and would drive economic
growth and development.
The policies, she said, included housing under the
1

_
6 !ing Company, the sugar roadmap and the automobile.
She added that these policies would help drive positive
growth in the economy, adding that the housing mort
+ '
week of June.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;From June, we will advertise for the people that will
\
housing scheme. This will

give the young ones hope to
live. Again, it also very important to hear that the concept of the Nigeria mortgage
!
!
award and recognition at the
just-concluded African Development Bank meeting. This is
to show that we are going the
right way,â&#x20AC;? she said.
Okonjo-Iweala explained
that the agriculture, aviation
and solid mineral sectors
would get support in form of
''[
8
The duty, she said, would
be basically incentives at zero
per cent.
Commenting on additional
N53billion to the budget, she
said that the Federal Government would look for additional funding to handle it.
``If not, it will be added to
the N571billion proposed to
be borrowed by the government in the budgetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, she said.

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

4

National

News

Strike threat: NMA carpets
NLC, TUC, JOHESU
Toyin Adebayo, Abuja

T

*
+%
#!
/!
"
0
1"!
/2
)2
+
"
"

$"
"
1"
/
1'
%
"
*
+%
"
/
3%
(

+"4
'

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m no fugitive,
Kashamu tells U.S court
$
$

5%"
61

A

chieftain of the
Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in the
South West, Prince Buruji
Kashamu, yesterday told a
X
Y &
in Chicago that it has no
case against his personality,
and should not be referred
to as a fugitive.
The US court in Chicago
presided by Judge Charles
Richard Norgle, had on
April 24 ruling described
Kashamu as fugitive and
drug dealer.
The Royal Court of Justice
in England presided over
by Lord Justice Pill and Mr.
Justice Bell had, in 2003,
granted
unconditionally
release to Kashamu when
the US Justice Department
could not substantiate its
claims that he (Kashamu)
was the most wanted
Alhaji who was allegedly
mentioned
by
others
arrested as their principal
conspirator.
The
UK
authority
declared that it was
discovered that Kashamuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
case was a case of mistaken
identity, stressing that the
Chicago prosecutors at that
time had also tainted their
!
evidence by failing to
disclose that one Mr.
Nicolas Fillmore, one of
the co-defendants, failed to
pick him (Kashamu) out of
a photo line-up.
But, the Chicago District
Court Judge Norgle who,
apart from faulting the
British
governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
handling of an extradition
\
Kashamu, claimed that
it was the testimony and
evidence produced by the
Nigerian government that
led to his release in England.
The judge also said that
Kashamuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s status as a
" &

put a stop to the blackmail
and the campaign of
calumny against his person.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;As I have often stated, the
United States government
had caused extradition
proceedings
to
be
commenced against me in
England for the purpose of
taking me to the US court for
trial in respect of the charges
made in the said indictment.
However, in two judgments
dated December 2, 2000
and January 10, 2003, the
English courts rejected
the application for my
extradition to the US on the
basis that it was a case of
mistaken identity. In fact,

and his relationship with
President
Goodluck
Jonathan would not make an
5
"
him successful,â&#x20AC;? Prince
Kashamu, in a statement
& {
2
chambers in the United
States said, adding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;I
am not a drug peddler as
the US court claimed. I have
been the one who has been
going to various courts in
the US since 2009 to remove
the stain of the purported
indictment which was
erroneously made against
me because I am convinced
that such a move would not
only clear my name but also

the original charge, from
1994 to 1998, had nothing to
do with me. My name was
not mentioned in the whole
proceedings. That in itself
puts a question mark on the
US courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jurisdiction over
me.â&#x20AC;?
When contacted by
our correspondent on
telephone for reaction, an
{
' Y$
the Chicago, IL Judiciary,
Mr. Roberto Cornej, said
that the US would be
waiting for an appeal from
Prince Kashamu who had
always been claiming to
be innocence of all charges
against him.

GTB wins African bank of the year award

T

he Nigerian banking
sector recently got an
international
boost
with the award to Guaranty
Trust Bank (GTB) Plc as
the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;2014 African Bank of
the Year,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; by African Banker
Magazine. The award was
given to GTB for the second
consecutive time.
A statement by the bank
said the award was given at
the just-concluded African
Development Bank (AFDB)
annual general meeting in
Kigali, Rwanda.
The
African
Banker
Awards is one of the
biggest annual events that
recognises and celebrates
the achievements of the
'
&
Africa.
The award recognises
'&
institutionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; contribution to
the development and growth
of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s banking industry
and changing perceptions of
the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s domestic and
international markets.
The statement said the
panel of judges explained
that the rationale for
selecting GTBank for the
coveted award was that
institutions
that
were

industry leaders, adding
that they also considered
those with consistent strong
"
contributed to the quality of
services within the country
and across the African
continent.
It said the Publisher of
African Banker Magazine,
Mr Omar Ben Yedder,
noted that the award was
memorable because â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;we
are here in Kigali where
we have witnessed the
transformation of a country.
Since we launched the
awards, we have witnessed
the transformation of an
industry. There is no room
for complacency because
there is much room for
growth and development to
achieve the transformation
we all desire and work
towards,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Omar said.
He further said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;seeing
{
(
and structure international
deals is a step forward and
unimaginable a decade
back. I am also delighted to
see three women pick up
three coveted individual
awards.
Congratulations
to them all,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; the statement
quoted Yedder as saying.
It said that Mr Kunle

Sonola, Managing Director,
GTBank
Kenya,
who
received the award on behalf
of GTBank, noted that the
award â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;is a testament to the
hard work and commitment
of the board, management
$
(%
also a challenge and a call to
do more to project the global
relevance of the African
banking industry.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
It
commended
the
bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
customers
for
their continued trust and
support, assuring them that
the bank would continue
to strive to deliver beyond
stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations
at all times.
According
to
the
statement, GTBank has
consistently
played
a
leading role in Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
banking industry.
It said the bank was one
&
institutions
across
its
subsidiary countries and
served as a role model
!
'
industry.
The statement explained
that its excellent performance
was due to its bias for world
class corporate governance
standards, excellent service
quality and innovation.

he Nigerian Medical
Association (NMA)
has
expressed
displeasure over the threat
of strike jointly issued
by the Nigerian Labour
Congress (NLC) and the
Trade Union Congress
(TUC) in solidarity with
JOHESU in the event of
failure by the Federal
Government to meet some
of their â&#x20AC;&#x153;irrational and
inordinate demands.â&#x20AC;?
In a statement signed
by the President of
the
association,
Dr.
Kayode Obembe, and
made available to our
correspondent in Abuja
after an expanded National
34
meeting of the association
held at the NMA National
Secretariat, it expressed
â&#x20AC;&#x153;regret that the NLC and
the TUC have particularly
chosen this period of
national grief and severe
trauma occasioned by
series of bomb blasts
with mass casualties; the
kidnap of our daughters
and sisters in Chibok by
insurgents and several
other calamitous events
bedevilling our beloved
nation, to issue a threat to
the Federal Government.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
It further stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;we
also note with shock the
level of deep-seated and
possibly genetic anger some
leaders of the allied health

workers (who are civil
servants) have continued to
exhibit against doctors, to
the extent of describing Prof.
C. O. Onyebuchi Chukwu,
a serving Hon. Minister of
The Federal Republic of
Nigeria as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Intransigent.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
This is not only despicable
but highly condemnable by
all men of good conscience.â&#x20AC;?
The association said that
the crises in the health sector
are politically motivated
and
counterproductive
$ &
democracy,
achieving
health related MDGs in
particular and in the overall
improvement of our health
indices in general.
Its words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This threat
of strike and other recent
events have proven us
% )
"
to blackmail the Federal
Government to do what
it knows, that if done, will
trigger a vicious circle of
industrial disharmony in
the health sector.â&#x20AC;?
According to Obembe,
the NLC/TUC as the
umbrella body of all labour
organizations in the country
neverbotheredtoinvestigate
the issues surrounding
industrial disharmony in
the health sector but chose
to exhibit bias and lopsided
&""
not minding the grave
consequences these pose to
the overall health and well
being of Nigerians.

Employment:EU,World Bank
contribute N48bn for projects

T

he EU and World Bank
have contributed $300
million (N48 billion)
grant for the implementation
of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;State Employment and
Expenditure for Results
(SEEFOR)â&#x20AC;&#x2122; projects in four
states.
According to Alhaji Bashir
Yuguda, the Supervising
Minister, National Planning
Commission (NPC), at the
national launch of SEEFOR
projects in Abuja organised
by the NPC in collaboration
with the World Bank, the EU,
the Federal Ministry of Niger
` {$
&
SEEFOR participating states of
Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers,
the project was initiated by the
World Bank to improve the
living conditions of the people
of the Niger Delta, as part of
its contribution to the amnesty
programme of the Federal
Government.
According to him, the overall
objective of the project is to
ensure improved standard of
living of citizens and enhance
"
in the country.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The project has three
main components such as
youth employment and
access to socioeconomic
' "&
management reforms and
project coordination and
implementation support at
the federal and sub-national
levels. It is worthy to note
that these three components

form the tripod upon which
the 2014 annual budget of
Federal Government and the
Transformation Agenda rest,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
he said.
Yuguda added that the
Federal Government had
established
institutional
framework
to
ensure
$'
delivery of the project at the
national and state levels.
The World Bank Country
Director for Nigeria, MarieFrancoise Marie-Nelly, said
the bank grant was to assist in
addressing youth restiveness,
poverty and unemployment
in the four states. She called
for collective leadership and
responsibility by stakeholders
to
ensure
successful
implementation of the project.
The EU Ambassador to
Nigeria, Mr Michel Arrion,
said youth empowerment was
imperative as some youths
engaged in terrorism activities
due to poverty in the society.
Arrion said the EU gave
the grant in consonance with
the Paris Declaration on Aid
|$'
%
The Head of Service in Edo,
Mr Jerry Obazele, said the
project had gone a long way
in creating jobs for youths in
the state, adding that the state
government had employed
more than 500 youths
through the project to sanitise
environment and maintain
roads.

Y~
%1$
Imo and managing
director of LUFRANZA
Construction
Services
have
been
declared
wanted for their alleged
involvement in failed
and abandoned road
contracts.
The state government
has thus pleaded with

the general public to
report any information
that could lead to the
immediate arrest of the
suspects to any nearest
police station.
{
(
on rural roads, Sir Jude
Ejiogu, said the duo were
declared wanted when
they refused to appear
investigating the alleged
contract scam.
Consequently,
the
'

the suspects 48 hours to
submit themselves to the
Commissioner of Police
or the Director of the State
Security Service (SSS).
Meanwhile,
the
directed
contractors
handling
rural
road
projects
in
Ikeduru
Local Government Area
to submit themselves
Commissioner of Police,
or the Director of SSS
within 48 hours or be

declared wanted for the
$
%
The contractors include
A.I.L
Construction
"
~
Allied Services, Bontex
Construction Company
and Wons Engineering
Company
Limited
respectively.
)
that the action was in
line with the rescue
mission of Governor
Rochas
Okorochaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
administration to curb
corruption in the State.

ome members of
the
Independent
Petroleum Marketers
Association of Nigeria
(IPMAN) have raised
alarm
over
alleged
diversion of products
meant for the association
by the Pipeline Products
Marketing
Company
(PPMC), a subsidiary
of the Nigeria National
Petroleum
Corporation
(NNPC).
The association urged
President
Goodluck
Jonathan to intervene
to prevent fuel scarcity,
which
could
further
aggravate the fragile socioeconomic and security
situation in the country.
)
$
to assist the Federal
Government to expose
shady deals and the oil
cabals within and outside
NNPC/PPMC
through
which the nation loses
billions of naira monthly
in the name of petroleum
subsidy.

Addressing a press
conference in Enugu, a
member of IPMAN, Mr.
Austin Ndigwe, who is
also the public relations
also decried what he
called â&#x20AC;&#x153;black market
injunctions,â&#x20AC;? circulating
and purporting to have
stopped the caretaker
""
IPMAN national executive
&
$
Enugu Depot of IPMAN
pending the conduct of
substantive elections.
Ndigwe
reiterated
that there is no faction
of IPMAN either at the
national level or Enugu
branch, insisting that Chief
Lawson Obasi remains
the national president and
Ikechukwu
Nwankwo,
(
chairman of Enugu Depot.
~ " !
President Jonathan to call
\\+
and restrain the agency
from further allocation of
petroleum products meant
for IPMAN to unknown
groups.

Chibok abduction: Imo
teachers storm streets
Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

H
Governor Rochas Okorocha (third right) with some members of the Imo State Executive Council when teachers led a peaceful
demonstration over the abducted Chibok school girls to Government House, Owerri.

he crisis rocking
the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil
and gas industry
has been blamed on
corruption among the
political class.
The accusation was
made
yesterday
in
Onitsha, Anambra State,
by the Port Harcourt
zonal
chairman
of
the National Union
of
Petroleum
and
Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG),
Comrade
Godwin Eruba, at the
inauguration of the
Anambra State branch
of the body, SUTAKEP
unit.
Eruba, who slammed
members of the ruling
class for their corrupt
tendencies, linked the
tradition of petroleum
products
importation
in Nigeria to corrupt
tendencies,
quering
why
successive
administrations failed
to build new refineries,
even with the geometric
growth of consumers of
petroleum products.
According to him,
insincerity and lack of
proper vision blinded
various administrations
from
realising
the
meaning
of
true
leadership, warning that
NUPENG in partnership

with
other
labour
unions would strongly
resist any attempt to
enslave Nigerians by
any political gimmick to
increase the pump price
of petroleum products.
He
described
any
â&#x20AC;&#x153;partial and complete
removal of fuel subsidyâ&#x20AC;?
as a political gimmick,
adding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;we will

not allow the removal
of fuel subsidy, whether
partial or complete.
We will not support
any further increase in
the price of fuel. The
Federal
Government
should first of all build
new
refineries
and
stop importation of
petroleum
products
which have been marred

by massive corruption
going on in the country
on daily basis.â&#x20AC;?
He warned that unless
the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political
leaders rise up to their
responsibilities
and
shun corruption, the
nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
economic
growth would never
reflect on the standard
of living of the people.

Enugu Command
of the Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence
Corps (NSCDC), have
arrested four persons
alleging
unauthorised
dealing and adulteration
of petroleum products.
The suspects are Sadam
Ibrahim,
30;
Kabiru
Ibrahim, 25 - both from
Katsina State - driver and
conductor respectively;
while
a
19-year-old
Alhaji Mohammed, and
27-year-old Diko Magaji
(passengers); hail from
Bauchi and Sokoto states
respectively.
Â&#x20AC; &
while
parading
the

suspects,
the
state
Commandant
of
NSCDC,
Nathaniel
Ubong explained that the
suspects were arrested
with 33,000 litres of
Straight Run Gasoline
(SRG), a substance he
explained were more
*
petrol which they loaded
in an Iveco long truck
with registration number
Kano XH534NSR.
According to him, the
product was loaded in an
undisclosed spot in PortHarcourt, Rivers State and
was allegedly heading to
Funtua in Katsina State
before it was intercepted
at 9th Mile Corner Enugu
state by his operatives.
Ubong noted that the

suspects, in a bid to
'&*&
a fake waybill.
He urged Nigerians to
rise-up against this new
wave of adulteration
of petroleum product,
saying that the product
(SRG)
when
mixed
with petrol burns faster
thereby
short-changes
end users.
He said that by the
act
that
established
NSCDC, the suspects
'
dealing in petroleum
product, which is act
of economic sabotage
punishable by M17 Sec.
18 (a) miscellaneous
$
{ Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x201E; !
of the federal Republic of
Nigeria.

undreds
of
teachers stormed
the
streets
of
Owerri
yesterday
protesting the abduction
of over 200 Chibok school
girls in Borno State.
Addressing the teachers
at the Government House
Owerri, Governor Rochas
(
the leaders have shirked
their
constitutional
responsibility to protect
lives and property as he
said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hate to say this;
I however, apologise to
Nigerians that indeed,
we have failed.â&#x20AC;?
Okorocha emphasised
that Nigerians must
unite irrespective of
political, religious and
quickly to bring back the
girls.
He maintained that
â&#x20AC;&#x153;the country is faced
with extreme danger
and must seek the wisest
course of action and not
of mourning; it is on that

we look worried but we
&
&
%Â&#x2026;
The state governor
declared that no amount
'
ugly situation would be
too much, as he pointed
out that all must join
hands to protect the
integrity of the nation.
He called for prayers as
he disclosed that the state
will embark on a three
days fasting and prayer
as he stated that his
government is anchored
on God.
Okorocha noted that
the integrity of the nation
is at stake and called for
prayers to seek Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
intervention
pointing
out that â&#x20AC;&#x153;in Imo, it took
prayers and support
of all to rid the state of
kidnappers.â&#x20AC;?
The
governor
commended the teachers
for demonstrating their
concern over the urgency
to bring back the over 200
abducted Chibok girls by
Boko Haram sect.

Nollywood filmmaker, Amaka
Igwe, for burial June 13

T

he remains of the late
Nollywood icon and
(
{(
Igwe, will be buried on June
13 in her marital home, Ndi
Uche, Arondizuogu in Imo
State.
The burial date was
contained in a statement
issued yesterday in Lagos.
The statement listed the
programme of events as
including an evening of tribute
and Service of Songs at Haven
Gardens, Ikeja GRA, on June
9 and at the Michael Okpara

Square, Enugu, on June 12.
Amaka Igwe, 51, died on
April 28, 2004 of complications
resulting from an asthmatic
(Y&''
husband, Charles Igwe, three
children, an aged mother and
siblings.
Igwe had contributed
immensely
to
the
development of indigenous
television drama series and
Nollywood for 25 years
and was conferred with an
MFR in 2011 by the Federal
Government.

yo State House
of Assembly has
commended
Governor Abiola Ajimobi
for his approval of the
appointment of competent
judges which according to
the legislators has enhanced
quality judicial process.
The commendation was
contained in a motion jointly
moved by Honourables
Adesope Azees, (Oorelope),
Adesina Adeyemo (Ibarapa)
and
Adeniyi
Farinto
(Iwajowa) at a plenary

presided over by the
Y"( ~Â&#x20AC; +
&
Sunmonu.
According
to
the
!(
{Â&#x20AC;
2
$
"
public sectors, including the
judiciary and the signing
!Â&#x20AC;&
(pension) bill 2013, is seen as
a giant stride in alleviating
&$
Â&#x20AC;& %
) !( !'
urged the governor to
5"
$
"( &
judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chambers, libraries

and court premises across the
State, as well as resuscitate
the computerization of court
proceedings.
Appeal was also made for
the prompt releases of the
appropriated capital fund in
the 2014 budget estimate to
the judiciary and to provide
vehicles, judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quarters,
allowances and fringe
Â&#x2C6;'
& +
6
and Fiscal Commission.
In a related development,
the House has debated
and passed for the
second reading, a bill for

a law to provide for the
the Public Defender.
The bill which was
'
~
% {(
Alli representing Ibadan
South East 1 constituency is
to give free legal services to
indigenes of the state who
could not engage services of
a legal practitioner.
) !(
various
contributions,
applauded the mover of the
bill, saying that the Agency
when established will serve
'
& " " (
succour.

Students of the Government Senior College, Agege and other girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; schools, during a peaceful protest on the abduction of the Chibok
school girls to the Lagos State Government House in Ikeja, Lagos... recently.
Photo: Abiodun Omotosho

nambra
State
Commissioner
for Information,
Culture and Tourism,
+ {
yesterday, commended
members of Nigerian
Association of Women
Journalists (NAWOJ) for
conducting themselves
peacefully during the
recently held election
and
conference
in
Badagry, Lagos State.
Onyima
said
the
council members made
the state proud by
conducting themselves
peacefully throughout
their
stay
at
the
conference venue.
His words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am
very happy that there
was no negative report
when the state councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
chairperson briefed the
ministry on the outcome
of the trip.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was briefed that
the council performed
optimally, though the
seat of Assistant National
Secretary, which the
council contested for,
was lost.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The
spirit
which
the council received
the outcome was very
commendable and it
shows that women and
men of the pen profession
are seasoned,â&#x20AC;? calling on
Nigerian politicians to
learn from them.
He
expressed
satisfaction that the

council has accepted
their loss in good faith
and encouraged the
&
prepared in their next
outing, as they have
learnt from their pitfalls.
Responding,
the
NAWOJ
Chairperson,
+ Y |
(
the triennial conference
at Badagry was a huge
experience
for
the
council.
Â&#x2019;)!'
experience of the council
in a national election of
&
Â&#x201C; ! (
baby learning on the
game but we did our
best.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were able to
achieve recognition that
NAWOJ Anambra is
'%

&"
we had 217 votes against
our opponent who had
been in the game for a
long time. It was a good
outing for me,â&#x20AC;? she said.
She
expressed
optimism
that
the
&
! &
in the next three years
when another conference
would be conducted
and commended the
State government for its
logistic support.
|
(
5"
& + 7 !
|6
support to the council,
the Red Cross Society
through
its
Vice
\ |(
+{
and Dr Chris Elumunoh.

LASU: SSANU begins strike Monday

Businessman arraigned
for N5.6m fraud

T

A

Y
Y$
Association of Nigerian
Universities (SSANU)
Lagos State University
(LASU) Chapter, yesterday,
said it would commence an
(
+
%
+ Y
chairman of the chapter,
told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that
!(
&
2
! (
place yesterday..

Oseni said the Lagos
State Government and the
institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
management
had failed to meet the unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
demands since it suspended
(
1
%Â&#x2021;%
)
YY{X#8{YX
+ Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030; &
!(
ultimatum to meet its
(%
The union had gone on
(
Y"
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;
and suspended it on January

13, after the government
pledged to meet its demands.
SSANU had demanded
the implementation of the
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â&#x160;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201A; $ "
which it said was pending
due to the ``No Vacancy,
No Promotionâ&#x20AC;? policy of its
management.
It also demanded the
"
Â&#x2030;#
year retirement age for its
members and the reversal of
(
%

Oseni
said
the
representatives of the state
government had promised
to meet the unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demands
at a meeting held by both
parties in September 2013.
``The government had,
through its representatives,
requested that we submit the
$
!
yet to be promoted, to act on
it and direct the management
%
``The union had sent the
list since December 5, 2013
but nothing has been done,â&#x20AC;?
he said.
Oseni said that the
current security challenges
He stated that what many
facing the country in the Nigerians want is good management was not giving
recent times.
governance that would be &
&
The APC chieftain who able to stand and protect
$ !
is also the publisher of their well being, saying â&#x20AC;&#x153; the invite the union for dialogue
Leadership
Newspaper
since it gave an ultimatum
maintained that the country government is to protect lives !(%
According to him, all
!
$
and properties of its citizens
ranging from insecurity, and by doing that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t administrative activities by
members of the union will
(
""
require budget.
robbery, under the present
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigerians want good be withdrawn until all the
administration of President governance and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait demands are met.
Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;1& ( {YXX
7 &(
1
2 till year 2019 to exercise that
administration. .
changes they want. â&#x20AC;? he withdrawn its academic
responsibility, we have also
He noted that part of the added .
reasons why the problem of
#
! decided to withdraw our
&
$ was optimistic that the APC administrative duties in the
Nigerian democracy is that will win the 2015 general university until our demands
many still have faith in the election then called on all its are met,â&#x20AC;? he said.
In his reaction, the Public
current democracy of the supporters to rally round
nation, adding that most and remain steadfast in the Â&#x2C6;
&
+
people in the country were partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to salvage
curious to see the present the country from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wrong Y&
$ !
opposition government out hands of misrule of the on to resolve all pending
issues with the union..
of power.
opposition partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

s the 2015 general
election is drawing
nearer, a chieftain of
the All Progressive Congress
3{\4 + Y #
Isaiah has declared that the
party would win the next
general elections in 2015 and
Â&#x2020;&
( '
power at the federal level.
#
{(&
"
during meeting he held with
chieftains and members of
the party over his presidential
ambition under the platform
of the party.
He explained that the APC
was on a renew mission to
( ' " !
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;
when elections would be
conducted, adding that the
party would put an end to the

that he would sell the goods
and remit the proceeds of the
sales to him.
{Â&#x20AC; (&
&
&&`
(
cheque for N1million in
favour of Bill Franco Ltd., the
complainantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company, in
$
%
The prosecutor said that the
accused was aware that there
!
&
&
( &
!
&
the dud cheque.
Ajayi added that the
businessman converted the
proceeds of the sale of the
goods to his own use, adding
$
{(
&
( !
fruitless.

Amosun charges Ministry of Youths,Sports on
capacity building
Bianca Iboma

G

'
(&
Amosun
of
Ogun State has
+
of Youths and Sport on
capacity building to
aid development in the
state. A statement by
the Commissioner of
Youths and Sports, Dr
Lanre Tejuoso during the
"
yesterday.
According
to
him,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;they are having a twin
responsibility
at
the
moment because the
gornment has given them
the mandate to empower
&
(
challenge of the youths
in the state as a tool
for negative activities.
The governor believes
strongly in governing a
healthy citizenry, which
will happen when sports
is used to engage and
secure a livelihood for the
youths.

ayelsa
State
Governor,
Seriake
Dickson,
has
â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Jonathan is
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without you in terms of his plan to reposition the
Sylvester Idowu, Asaba
passing through heat right prayers and counselling, PFN and build synergy presented N30 million to
Niger Delta organizations
elta State Governor, now but he will come out Delta State will not be within it.
He
lauded
the in Lagos as a revolving
Dr.
Emmanuel stronger, more acceptable where it is today,â&#x20AC;? he said.
Uduaghan congratulated developmental strides of loan which is part of
Uduaghan, has said and a greater leader,â&#x20AC;? the
administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Rev. Omobude on his the Governor Uduaghanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his
that President Goodluck governor said.
X&
&
election as the president administration,
noting economic empowerment
Jonathan would emerge
programme.
success
of
his of PFN and commended that the free education
stronger from the present the
At a programme held
of
the
security challenges facing administration to God, $ programme
said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot take credit at
repositioning
the government
is
one at the Nigerian Navy
the country.
in Ajegunle,
programme
that
is Barrack
Speaking when he played for what we are doing fellowship.
Rev. Omobude, who led positioning the youths of 8 !!
host to the president of the in the state. Whatever
by Comrade Joseph Evah,
Pentecostal Fellowship of modest achievement we other executives of PFN on the state positively.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The greatness of a co-coordinator of the Ijaw
Nigeria (PFN), Rev. (Dr.) are having is by the grace the visit to the governor,
explained that his visit leader is in his people. I +
7 &"3
+74Â&#x201C;
Felix Omobude, in Asaba, of God.â&#x20AC;?
He thanked spiritual to the state was aimed want to congratulate you deputy national chairman
X&
Nigeria is facing serious leaders for their prayers at bringing the national on your developmental of the Peoples Democratic
challenges but noted that for the country and Delta headquarters of the body $ Â&#x201C; & '
Party (PDP), Chief Uche
one in doubt that you Secondus and over 600
President Jonathan would State in particular, noting closer to the people.
The cleric explained that mean well for Delta State.â&#x20AC;? organizations under the
that with their prayers, a
IMG, the governor said
lot have been achieved.
the visit was also part of
from the challenges.
the loan could be accessed
through the formation of
cooperative societies with
minimum interests rates
era of free money was
long over in Bayelsa State.
He said the Bayelsa
State
government
is
$'
!
institutions to raise the
money as trust fund and
urged all the organizations
to make prudent use of it
to improve their economic
fortunes.
He assured them of his
preparedness to make
more funds available if
the N30 million fund is
judiciously used.
L-R: Special Adviser, Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Permanent
The
governor
Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Wale Raji, when the governor was inspecting the photographic works on display

ll Peoples Congress
(APC) in Rivers
State has alerted
security agencies in the
state about an alleged plot
by the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in the state to
instigate the destruction of
its (PDP) secretariat and
turn around to blame it on
the APC.
In a statement by its
chairman, Dr. Davies
Ibiamu Ikanya, signed by
his Senior Special Aide on
Media and Publicity, Chief
Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
the APC said the party was

alarmed by the allegation
by Rivers PDP that APC
agents were planning to
( 2
secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Ikanya said the party
saw the allegation as a case
(#*
\`\
APC did not have any such
plan.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our belief is that the
PDP may be planning to
sponsor the purported
destruction
and
turn
around to blame it on the
APC so as to whip up
public sympathy in view of
its diminishing fortunes in
Rivers State. Why should

{\
(\`\
secretariat? PDP hardly
exists in Rivers State and
we have no reason to
((
secretariat. The APC is the
party in power in Rivers
State and it is the party of
Rivers people. Besides,
we are a disciplined party
which plays strictly by
the rules of the game out
of our desire to enhance
democracy not only in the
state but also across the
country,â&#x20AC;? the party said.
The
party
added:
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We see this falsehood
being spewed out by

s a result of the
insecurity in the
country caused by
the activities of the dreaded
Boko Haram insurgents,
Delta State government
has declared that this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebration
in the state would be marked
without fanfare.
The state governor, Dr.
Emmanuel
Uduaghan
stated this while addressing
a press conference in Asaba
to kick-start the Democracy

Day programme, explaining
that the Democracy and
Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebrations
would instead be marked
in the state with fasting and
prayers for the nation.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of the situation
of things in the country, we
have decided that 2014 is
not a year of celebration but
a year of serious prayers,â&#x20AC;?
adding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;on May 27,
the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, we are
going to get our children to
fast and pray. Our children
! " Â&#x201C;
will pray for their colleagues

who have been kidnapped,
and they will pray that they
should be encouraged to be
educated rather than being
discouraged from being
educated. As a state, we had
challenges but they were
overcome through prayers,â&#x20AC;?
the governor said.
He added that President
Goodluck Jonathan and his
team are doing a lot to deal
with the security challenges,
noting that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the life and
property of all Nigerians
are dear to the heart of the
President.

commended
Comrade
Evah for working for the
progress of the state and
the Niger Delta in general.
He pointed out that his
administration is poised
to ensure security and
development in the state.
He described Lagos State
as an important contriutor
to the development of
Niger Delta indigenes in
the state.
The governor added that
his administration has
sent over 150 PhD holders
and 100 others with
Masters degrees abroad
for training.
This in addition to
establishing a College of
Education in Sagbama,
Teachers Training Schools,
Tourism School, Driving
Institutes,
School
of
Agriculture and School
of Music, eight models
secondary schools with
boarding facility in every
constituency.
According to him, his
government also paid
the Joint Ademinission
and Matriculation Board
(JAMB),
National
Examination
Copuncil
(NECO), science and
practicals fees.
Comrade Evah, in his
response,
commended
the governor for his
achievements
and
resolve
to
empower
the Niger Delta people,
developments, he said,
have given the people
hope.

... As youths flay call to
dissolve NDDC board

and
send
wrong
impression to the people
iger Delta youths of the region on the
\`\
under the aegis policies and ideologies
chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah,
of Eye of Niger of the new management.
and
his
propaganda
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not happy
(END)
have
mouthpiece, Mr. Jerry Delta
some
persons
Needam, as an important condemned the call to that
hijacked
the name of
clue. So we hereby advise remove the six monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
our
organisation
(Eye of
the
relevant
security old board of Niger
Development Niger Delta) and went to
organs to take note and be Delta
(NDDC) the media to say we are
watchful because if I know Commission
Rivers PDP leaders very led by Chief Dan Abia, calling for the removal
well, they are planning to describing it as a ploy of Dan Abia led Board of
( to distract the board NDDC, when there was
the
numerous no time this organisation
a strategy to ask for more from
developmental plans it did so.
funds from their master.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last
weekend
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr Obuah and Needam has for the region.
organisation
The group said it is too another
have seen the desperation
in Chief Nyeson Wike early to discredit or judge placed an advert in one
over his unrealizable and the newly inaugurate of the national daily
&
board, adding that it is discrediting the board
govern Rivers State and
{
on the ground of nonare ready to milk the poor led board would make performance but it is
wrong for any group or
fellow dry as falsehood has progress.
Speaking yesterday individual to be calling
become their trademark.â&#x20AC;?
The APC also alleged in Port Harcourt, the on the removal of six
that the Rivers PDP and leader of the group, Tari months old board. It
its leadership had set up Victor Ben, said there is on this basis that we
( is no indication that wish to condemn in
upon the dismantling and the board would not strong terms this call,â&#x20AC;?
destruction of all APC perform when the man Tari said.
He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We
billboards mounted at very $
was the best performing are well aware of the
strategic place in the state.
administrative
prowess
The party pleaded with commissioner in Akwa
of Chief Dan Abia,
security organs in the state Ibom State.
He said those calling we consider him very
to intervene and stop the
PDP from carrying out for the dissolution of the &
what it described as wicked board at this early time of MD of NDDC. He is
plot against a peaceful are political detractors nothing but a blessing to
whose aim is to tarnish the good people of Niger
party like the APC.
the image of the board Delta.â&#x20AC;?
Ayodele Olalere

ASI Maintains Upward trend; appreciates 0.70%
its positive trend on Thursday and
Friday with 1.15 per cent and 0.70
quities transactions on the per cent gains respectively.
Nigerian Stock Exchange
The
index
and
Market
(NSE) closed yesterday on "
a positive note, as All Share Index growth rates. Index sustained
(ASI) appreciated by 0.70 per cent above 39,000 basis points threshold
to close at 39,831 basis points, & &!(
'
compared with the depreciation of 40,000 during trading session
1.15 per cent recorded previously. yesterday to close at 39,833.94.
Its Year-to-Date (YTD) returns
Market capitalisation equally
currently stood at -3.62 per cent.
closed higher at N13.152trillion
For the week ended, the equities against N12.853 recorded last
market opened the week and week. Finally, the Year-to-Date loss
sustained a modest loss of -0.04 per of the benchmark index dropped
to -3.97 per cent while Caverton
week, but recovered in the second Plc listing added N31.83billion
day with 0.40 per cent positive to the market capitalisation as it
returns. It registered another appreciated by N299 billion to
negative daily return of -0.15 per Â&#x2021;%Â&#x2021;Â&#x201A;
"
cent on Wednesday while restoring with N12.853trillion in the previous
Abiodun Awogbemi

week.
Transaction level in terms of
volume of trades improved,
compared to last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s level
of trades. Activity levels of the
market, in terms of volume traded
appreciated by 12.93per cent
as 1.87billion shares valued at
N23.666billion were exchanged
in lower number of deals of
23,054 compared with 1.65billion
shares valued at N19.81billion
exchanged in 24,031deals last week
respectively.
)
'
continued its position as the most
active sector in the week. The
sector maintained its dominance
in terms of volume of transaction
accounting for over 50 per cent of
total volumes.
Closing Price
85.80
1.35
0.81
1.71
9.30
0.50

he failure by many state governments
and governors to conduct local
government elections or accord local
governments in their states due regards as
provided for in the 1999 Constitution may
have rubbished the third tier of government,
making a mockery of the 1976 enabling law,
which recognised it as another vital level of
administration.
For samplers, only 17 (Enugu, Ebonyi,
Lagos, Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, Akwa Ibom,
Benue, Jigawa, Adamawa, Kaduna, Cross
River and Rivers, Kebbi, Ogun, Taraba,
Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) of the 36 states conducted elections
into their local government councils, while
the remaining 19 states have been running
the councils with either interim or caretaker
%
Political analysts readily adduce the failure
to by the governors to conduct council
elections to their loathesomeness for the third
tier of governmen, touted as the closest to the
grassroot electorate.
True or false, some state governors are
believed to be uncomfortable with local
government autonomy, preferring to be
literally worshipped by those at the head of
that level of government.
Some in fact argue that development and
harmonisation of programmes would be
&!&&
%
It is on record that of all the states that have
conducted local government elections, Sokoto
held its last on July 23, 2011 and due to have
another in September this year.
Niger State conducted its own in October
2011 and the terms will expire this year.
Kwara, which held one in October 2010, plans
to conduct the next elections into the councils
next year, while Akwa Ibom held its own in
June, 2012. Cross River held the last council
elections in 2010 and is due to hold the next
one in December this year.
Other states that are up to date with council
elections include Benue which, prior to
2007, conducted the last one in November
24. Jigawa held its own last year; while
Rivers held its own in May 2011. Lagos also
conducted its council polls this year while
Enugu and Ebonyi states are among the few
states with up to date council polls, with the

last election in Enugu holding in December
2011 and Ebonyiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in July 2010. Both states are
preparing for their next polls.
Alongside their stranglehold on the third
tier of government by the state governors,
is the alleged meddling with their allocated
funds through the Local Government Joint
Accounts.
In Abia State, the last council elections were
held in January 2008 and when their tenures
expired in 2010, the governor appointed
(
'
occasions created a timeline for council polls
which never held.
Kaduna State held its council elections last
Saturday after a long period of running under
""
%

Y
&
expired in July 2011 and preparations to
conducted fresh polls were on when a court
order stopped it. Since then, the third tier
of government in the state has been run by
( %&
&
5
poll.
Local government polls in Plateau State
held last in November 2008 and witnessed
violence. Their terms ran out in January 2012,
!
!
were set up in their place. No date is
scheduled yet for the next elections there.
Bayelsa State held its last council polls in
{"Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;%
Y(`(
&
'
' &
administrations and appointed interim teams.
Edo State held its last council polls
in December 2007, during Professor
Oserhiemen Osunborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration before
it was sent packing by a court. The next was
slated for and held in February last year.
Council elections were last conducted
in Borno State in 2007. Till date, ad hoc
arrangements have been used to run the
councils while in Yobe, council elections last
held in 2009. Since then, the councils are
without elected heads and no date has been
5
5
%
In Nasarawa State, council elections
were last held in 2009 while the next were
slated for last year. Consequently, the third
tier of government there is under interim
administration. In Kano State, the last council
polls were in 2009, which expired in 2011.
Up until now, nothing concrete is being said
about the next council polls there.
Katsina State last held council elections in
2010, and since the expiration of that tenure,
the state has run the councils under caretaker
!`Y

INEC boss, Jega

council polls in May/June 2008 with no date
yet for another.
In Ondo State, election was held in
December 2007 under Dr. Olusegun Agagu
(now deceased) but was later dissolved by
Governor Olusegun Mimiko. No new date
has been set for the exercise. In Imo State, it
has been a total rigmarole with the creation
of further tiers without any mention of local
government elections.
Anambra State features perhaps the most
notorious scenario. The last local government
election in the state was conducted in 1999.
And due to what politicians say is courtrelated reason, the third tier of government in
that state has been under unelected structures
%
"
conduct another election.
In Oyo State, the councils are run by
( '
election in the state was held in December
2008. And with the appointment of new
(
tier in the state were not expected until 2013.
Osun State last held its local government
election in 2007. So, the councils have been

That eleven (11) states
namely: Abia, Bauchi,
Borno, Delta, Ekiti, Imo,
Kano, Katsina, Ondo,
Osun and Oyo have,
disappointingly, failed
to conduct local council
elections and that the LGAs
in these states are either
under caretaker committees
or, in one case (Delta),
under the Head of Personnel
Management, contrary to
the provisions of the 1999
Constitution (as amended)

NULGE President, Nwabueze

under one form of interim administration or
the other. The permutation is that it may hold
again in 2014.
In Ekiti State, the last council elections were
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Ă?
"
&
election have been stopped by the courts.
!
"
!
elections; while in Bauchi State, council polls
were last held in 2008. Ever since, unelected
persons have been administering the councils;
though the government reconstituted the
State Independent Electoral Commission in
2012.
Consequently, the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and the
States Independent Electoral Commission
(SIEC) have decried the refusal of some state
governors to conduct elections into local
councils. They jointly called on the reluctant
states to urgently do so in the interest of
democracy.
Rising from a two-day INEC/SIECS
experience sharing conference on best
practices in election management held in
Kaduna, the parties noted that 11 states are
yet to conduct local government elections.
The meeting aimed at sharing experiences
on international best practices, assessed
challenges and reinforced commitment to
credible elections in Nigeria; and share with
SIECs the overall plans and preparations of
INEC for the 2015 general elections.
A communiquĂŠ issued at the end of the
meeting on Friday, stated that we â&#x20AC;&#x153;strongly
urge states that have not conducted local
government area elections and are under
' &( &
so without further delay.â&#x20AC;?
The communiquĂŠ signed by Oluwole
Osaze-Uzzi, director, Voter Education
and Publicity at the INEC added that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the
conduct of free, fair and credible elections
at national as well as local government
levels is indispensable to the expansion
and deepening of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s democratic
experience;
â&#x20AC;&#x153;That eleven (11) states namely,
Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Delta, Ekiti, Imo,
Kano, Katsina, Ondo, Osun and Oyo
have, disappointingly, failed to conduct
local council elections and that the local
government areas in these states are either
&
(
case (Delta), under the Head of Personnel
Management, contrary to the provisions of
the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
â&#x20AC;&#x153;State governments are to create enabling
Continued on Page 16

16

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Politics

LGs as tools in governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hands

Continued from Page 15

conditions that can allow SIECs
to operate professionally and
creditably; they urged political
parties to begin extensive civic
and voter education campaigns to
complement the work of SIECs and
INEC.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;That the operational and
"
Y
|
is key to the conduct of free, fair
and credible local government
and should be constitutionally
guaranteed;
â&#x20AC;&#x153;That INECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preparations for the
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;
"&
in areas such as the
|
\ Â&#x20AC;\
|
Management System, Constituency
Delimitation, continuous voter
registration and voter education
among many others are impressive;
and
â&#x20AC;&#x153; That all political parties should
intensify civic and voter education
as part of their
responsibilities as mobilisers of
voters and aggregators of opinions.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;To explore more avenues of
cooperation between SIECs and
INEC in addressing the challenges
arising from the electoral and
political processes.â&#x20AC;?
However, the Association of
Local Government of Nigeria
(ALGON) recently added its voice
to the call for proper governance at
that level to ensure a functional and
$' '
in the country.
\
%
Mr. Nwabueze Okafor, during
'!!Â&#x20AC; &
said through a functional local
government system, some of the
things that people want done could
be achieved at the local government
level, adding that it also reduces
pressure on the federal and state
governments.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is why the framers of our
Constitution thought it wise to have
$
'
than have a unitary government
!'
{
&Â&#x20AC;
to struggle for the resources,â&#x20AC;? he
added.
He went further: â&#x20AC;&#x153;How can
you be talking of environmental
" &
{
&Â&#x20AC;!
"
doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any business with
you and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even watch your
television programme where you
are speaking long grammar? But he
knows when his water is polluted;
(
!!
$
the animal life in the water. So,
you must establish the necessary
connect.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;There must be local
governments where you have
councillors representing the
$
&
&
people can reach the councillors
even if they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t solve all their
problem, at least someone has
listened to them. And from the
councillors, you come to the
local government itself and the
chairman.â&#x20AC;?
Saturday Newswatch reliably
learnt that in Delta State, one of the
challenges confronting Governor
Emmanuel Uduaghan was the
protracted move to reconcile the
Chief Edwin Clark faction of the
"
\ "
` \3\`\4
opposed by several party members
who felt that their interests would
be threatened by the reconciliation
move.
If the reconciliation is successful,

Fashola

Wada
the second move, according to
our source, is for names of the
Delta State Independent Electoral
Commission (DSIEC) members to
be forwarded to the state House
of Assembly for approval as well
as allocation of funds for the
conduct of the elections, as without
a successful reconciliation of the
party, the governor will be reluctant
to forward DSIEC membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; names
to the Assembly, and the date for
local government elections would
be completely unpredictable
except the law court ruled that it
is constitutional to operate local
government councils without
elected councillors.
Uduaghan recently allegedly said
" ! 5
for the local government elections,
an issue which has raised anxiety
particularly among political parties
in the state, adding that it is only the
`Y
| &5
conduct the elections.
He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The date does
not depend on me. DSIEC is
conducting the election; I am an
interested party in the election. I am
' Â&#x201C;
5
date for the elections.â&#x20AC;?
This excuse has always been the
lee-way for other states too to shy
away from ushering the peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
'
Â&#x201C;
is widely believed that the closest
government to the masses is the
local government administration.
Meanwhile, the Delta State
House of Assembly was recently
accused of reneging on its
responsibility by dissolving local
councils in the state about a year
ago and failing to name a date for
&
vacuum created.
It would be recalled that the
recent recommendations of the
\
Restructuring and Forms of
Government to scrap the Local
Government Areas in the country
Â&#x2020;& "&
%
)
recommended that the list of the
774 local governments as contained
Y&\Â&#x2021;
Â&#x2021;Ă?Ă?Ă?
&
'

Wamako

Aregbesola
and transferred to the states to
be covered by a law of the states
Houses of Assembly.
) "
the recommendation that the
functions of local governments, as
Y&Â&#x201E; Â&#x2021;Ă?Ă?Ă?
Constitution, should be transferred
&
Â&#x20AC; " !
of the states Houses of Assembly
to add or reduce from the list.

!'Y
Ă?
Â&#x2021;Ă?Ă?Ă?
&
administrators of local government
should be democratically elected.
Reacting, members of the
Nigerian Union of Local
Government Employees (NULGE),
led by their national vice president
Mr. Lucky Gospel Ewa, faulted
2"
expressed worry that the status
of local governments was being
threatened at the conference,
arguing that granting local
governments full autonomy
would bring government closer to

The conduct
of free, fair and
credible elections
at national as
well as local
government
levels is
indispensable to
the expansion
and deepening
of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
democratic
experience

Chime

Orji
" "
&
their constitutional roles without
interference.
Y
\
of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim
Khaleel, had earlier noted that the
nation had a local government
system where the governor of a
state decided when and when not
to conduct elections in the local
governments. The union also held
that on the creation of additional
local governments, such power
should reside with the Federal
Government using population and
landmass.
A paper delivered at the 23rd
lecture and luncheon of the House
8
+Â&#x2021;
Â&#x2020;&~1
\ %{(
!
+
&
Â&#x20AC;
titled: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;My Lords! What is the State
+
Ă&#x2019;Â&#x2C6;*
State of the Local Government
System in Nigeria,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; addressed the
foregoing issues.
The present system of local
governments in Nigeria stem
Â&#x2021;Ă?Ă?Â&#x2030;8 7 '
Reform. This reform established
a uniform and single-tier system
of government that was later
Â&#x2021;Ă?Ă?Ă?
&
thereby giving it full legal backing
and recognition as the third tier
of government after the Federal
Y '
%\
+
&
Â&#x20AC; !'
Â&#x2021;Ă?Ă?Â&#x2030;8 7 '
Â&#x2C6;
system in Nigeria whereby people
live either in urban or rural areas.
According to him, it preferred
instead, an arbitrary criterion based
purely on the size of a population

!
Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;
Ă&#x201C;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;%
Â&#x2020;&
&
!' &
Â&#x201A;Ă?Ă?
local government areas with the
Federal Capital Territory being
divided into local government areas
( Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;%~
that for such arbitrary system to
survive, small and medium-size
towns were put together under one
local government while large cities
were divided into a number of local
government areas. Interestingly,
such development, according to

+
&
Â&#x20AC;&
such as the Odogbolu Local
Government Area in Ogun State
where, because the population of
this local government area was
Â&#x2020;&&
(
Â&#x20AC;
&#
Ode urban area was carved out and
said to be a part of Odogbolu Local
Government.
! !+
&
Â&#x20AC;
advocated a revised constitution
&
&
Â&#x2020;&'
leaving the establishment, structure,
"
&
of local government councils
Â&#x2020;&&
"&'!
governments. This would mean
Y
3Â&#x2030;4
Y
Ă&#x201C;
"
Â&#x2021;Ă?Ă?Ă?
&
%
Y+
&
Â&#x20AC;Ă&#x201D;Â&#x2019;)
Constitution itself is really confused
about the local government
because one clause says: It will be
established by state; another clause
says there will be 774 and listed
them in the same constitution.
Hence, we have to remove them
from that constitution.â&#x20AC;?
According to him, if money must
be given to local governments, in
the form of subvention, it should
be based on the same formula as
used calculating subventions for the
states. States should then be left to
determine the distribution among
their local governments.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;There should be no direct
disbursement from the Federal to
the local governmentsâ&#x20AC;? he stressed.
A second step in the right
direction should also be either
a constitutional or legislative
distinction between urban and rural
local governments. Simply put,
!&
$
between rural and urban areas.
This should be based on clear-cut
criteria, including population
6&!
crosses the threshold of any of these
criteria, it could asked to change
&%+
&
Â&#x20AC;
this has become urgent because of
the increasing number of people
moving from rural to urban
areas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make proper
arrangement to ensure that the right
facilities are available in urban areas,
weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in real trouble,â&#x20AC;? he warned.
In the same vein, he advocated
that the Constitution be recognised
with its concurrent list, especially
with the special case of metropolitan
areas which are large urban areas
arising from the progressive
merging of many urban centres
whose infrastructural and planning
Â&#x2020;&
&
& Â&#x2020;&
from the Federal Government.
+
&
Â&#x20AC; "
that it should be mandatory
(constitutionalised) that local
governments should hold a
town hall meeting at least once
a year both to present a budget
to their citizens and report their
performance in the preceding year
and receive feedback. Here, the
people themselves would indicate
what next they want to do, not the
governor determining this. This
would enhance accountability to the
people.
Notably, the guest speaker
called for increased advocacy by
Nigerians towards a revamp of the
local government system in Nigeria.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are localised individuals;
we have primordial ties with our
localities and want to see them
Â&#x201C;!& (
!Â&#x201C;
us hope the Confab leaves local
governments with the state,â&#x20AC;? he
concluded.

he political intrigues
toward 2015 general
election have begun
to manifest in Adamawa
State as 18 lawmakers that
have political deals with the
leadership of All Progressives
Congress (APC), to achieve
their 2015 political ambition
have terminated the deal.
The lawmakers who earlier
threw their weight behind
Governor Murtala Nyako,
during the struggle between
the new Peoples Democratic
Party (nPDP) and Bamanga
Tukur-led PDP, with hope
of been paid back with APC
('
&"
APC for PDP.
Investigation by Saturday
Newswatch revealed that
18 of 25 lawmakers in
the Assembly have been
{\
in the state, such that they
sponsored APC candidates in
the last party congress.
It was gathered that their
new support for PDP was
occasioned by the PDP
national chairman Alhaji
Adamu Muazuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent
meeting with the lawmakers
at PDP National Secretariat
{
&Â&#x20AC;!
allegedly wooed them with
automatic ticket in 2015.
The lawmakers were
afterward directed to work
with State Executives of the
Party led by Joel Madaki
with assurance of due
platform to realise their
political ambition, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were
"( &
home and work against
APC,â&#x20AC;? a source informed.
On their return to the
state, the Assembly witness
some drastic changes as
new political developments
&
'"
members of the APC defected
to the PDP, thus rendering
the House to a one party.
{"
Tuesday, presided over by
the Speaker Hon. Ahmadu
Umaru Fintiri, the APC
members who were led
by the House minority
leader, Warfariniyi Theman
(member Hong) presented
their case under Order 41,
where the House rule was
suspended to accommodate
"
explanation.They explained
that although they won
elections under the ACN
and CPC, â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the platform
no longer exists by virtue of

Nyako

their fusion into the APC.â&#x20AC;?
They further stated that they
decamped to the PDP after
due consultations with their
constituencies.
The Speaker observed
that the members acted in
accordance with laid down
procedures under section 109
(F) of the constitution which
empowers them to do so.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;People can see clear that the
House is purely a PDP House
as all the 25 members are
now PDP members,â&#x20AC;? Fintri
declared.
According to him the action
~ &&""
for the transformation and
rebirth of the country by
President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan.
However, Hon. Adamu
Kamale the spokesman of
the Assembly told reporters
that the lawmakers have no
longer plan to defect to APC,
denying allegations that 17
of them are romancing APC,
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The PDP lawmakers have
never left PDP for APC with
Governor Murtala Nyako,â&#x20AC;?
he added.
On why it took them time
to decamp to PDP, he said
â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a House where there is
struggle between members of
the same family, one needs
to apply wisdom by avoiding
anything that will make him
take wrong decision.â&#x20AC;?
He explained that PDP in
the state was once embroiled
in leadership tussle which
led to emergence of two
state chairmen that made
the lawmakers to be careful
not to back any group,
saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, the crisis in
PDP, is over we have only
one state chairman who is
chief Joel Madaki,â&#x20AC;? adding
that political development

Muâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;azu

has nothing to do with
the cordial relationship
between Governor Nyako
and the House, assuring that
they would work with the
executive for the interest of
the state.
However, event watchers
see the political development
as a mean to overheat the
state polity, believing that the
lawmakers may be spoiling
( 2
administration.
Reacting to the
development, the former
secretary of PDP, in the
state Mr. P.P. Elisha who
defected along with Nyako,
quoted section 109 of Nigeria
constitution to condemn the
lawmakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; action.
He however charged
the lawmakers to put the
interest of the state above
any political parties in order

Their new support
for PDP was
occasioned by
the PDP national
chairman; Alhaji
Adamu Muazuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
recent meeting with
the lawmakers
at PDP National
Secretariat
Abuja, where the
latter allegedly
wooed them with
automatic ticket in
2015

to ensure stability of the
government.
In a similar development
the leadership of Adamawa
PDP yesterday received
formally to its fold, the new
members.
The State leader of
the party, Barrister Bala
Nggilari, who doubles as
the Deputy Governor of the
state described the moment
as arrival of good things to
salvage Adamawa State from
the doldrums.
He further intoned that it
was an indelible moment
in the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and
charged all to ensure that
PDP sweep all elective posts
in 2015, for camaraderie to
exist between the executive
and the legislative for there
to be a friction-free working
relationship that would
enhance productivity and
development.
The Speaker, Hon. Ahmadu
Fintiri who led the members
to the secretariat informed
the party executives that he
came with the 25 legislators
to pledge unalloyed support
and solidarity to the Madakiled PDP structure in the state.
He stated that preceding
events in the Assembly
clearly pointed to the bold
step taken by the legislators
to ensure a complete PDP
success in future elections
and equally harped on their
collective resolve to right
the wrongs by ensuring
that government is held
accountable for failure in
deliverance of dividends of
democracy.
Alhaji Jingi Rufai the
state deputy chairman
received the lawmakers and
presented them with PDP
*
the PDP wide umbrella is
accommodating and doors
open to anybody who wishes
join it in the interest of
developing the state.
)
a huge crowd and party
supporters who thronged the
secretariat amidst song and
dance in commemoration of
what many described as an
auspicious moment in the
political struggle of the PDP
in Adamawa since the exit of
Governor Nyako.
However, thousands of PDP
supporters from the 21 local
governments are trooping the
State Assembly in solidarity
with the lawmakers.

ommunities of Ogoniland,
Rivers State, have adopted a
Pro-Poor Oil and Gas Policy
as an advocacy tool in their quest
for environmental justice.
This was part of the fall out of
a two-day advocacy conference
organized in Kpor last week
by the Centre for Environment,
Human Rights and Development
(CEHRD), in partnership with the
Catholic Organisation for Relief and
Development Aid (CORDAID).
Adopting the policy document
packaged by CEHRD with inputs
from community stakeholders, the
communities undertook to form
advocacy groups that would be
at the forefront as they embark on
advocacies to relevant authorities.
Encouraging the communities to
take the advocacy option serious,
Michael Gbarabe, CEHRDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
\ !
the conference, under the theme,
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Advocacy: A Veritable Tool for
Policy Reforms and Community
Development,â&#x20AC;? called for policies
and laws that would protect the
interests of regions that bear the
brunt of extractive activities.
He said this was necessary since
the existing policies are anti-poor.
He told the community members
not to relent in the search for
solutions to the Niger Delta oil and
gas-induced problems, as they hold
the key of change that the society
seeks.
In a keynote, Programme Director
of CEHRD, Obodoekwe Styvn
&
5
"
in Nigeria may not be adequate
to protect the interests of local
communities that bear the brunt
of oil activities as they were never
consulted in the production of such
policies.
Â&#x2019;)" !
of fact, designed to exclude the
communities from being involved
in extractive activities going on in
their environmentâ&#x20AC;?, he said, adding
that oil and gas pollution in the
Niger Delta have remained a major
cause for concern among lovers of
justice as pollutions have left the
environment devastated and local
sources of livelihood disjointed.
He advocated a pro-poor oil
and gas policy as a way out of the
hopeless situation in the Niger
Delta.
Callistus Oke also noted that
youths in the Niger Delta are faced
with challenges of livelihood as a
result of oil activities, adding that
in trying to meet up with these
challenges, some youths have
resorted to crime like breaking oil
pipelines.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Livelihood has been negatively
impacted upon by oil and gas
activities as environmental
problems have contributed to lack
of alternative means of survivalâ&#x20AC;?,
said he, adding that youths embrace
oil bunkering, political thuggery
and militancy to make ends meet.
The draft of a pro-poor oil and gas
policy was validated and adopted
by the participants, who aim at
using the policy as an advocacy
tool.
CORDAID representatives at
the forum, Justine Okwuofu and
Odinakachi Nwaohin, commended
the participants as well as other
Ogoni communities for their
resilience in their non-violent
&
'
%

18

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Politics

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rig Osun poll
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Guber candidate
Senator Sunday Fajinmi,63, is an astute politician from
Iwo, Osun State. He was twice elected Senator for Osun
West on the platform of UNCP and A.D respectively. He is
now the overnorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy
(A.D.) in the coming August 9 election. MICHAEL
OLANREWAJU was among the Journalists he addressed
recently in Oshogbo where he disclosed his determination
to wrest power from Governor Rauf Aregbesola to execute
â&#x20AC;&#x153;the peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; programmesâ&#x20AC;? enunciated by the late sage,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Here are Excerpts:

Y

ou have just been
declared as the authentic
Governorship candidate
of your party, Alliance for
Democracy (AD), do you think
you have what it takes to beat
the incumbent?
Well, I thank you for that
question and most people have
asked that question most often
times. It itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an abnormal since
Aregbesola became the Governor
of Osun State because he has
not been taught governance in
the right perspective, he has not
he came to Osun and we can
see how he has messed it up.
Every step he made is always at
the wrong direction, everything
he has done has not been very
successful. With somebody who
claims that he has been well
taught in Lagos, one should have
5"
"
from him than what we have
now. Look at the school uniform
problem that we have now,
! &$
student from Oke-Ila to a student
from Ilesa or to Iwo in a case
where there is a crisis or a sport
competition that comprises of
all the schools in Osun, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
"
%
!
look at the school system, how
would you start merging schools
together, our fore-fathers made
sure that students donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need
to walk one kilometre before
they get to school, at worst two
kilometres so that they will not
be tired before they get to school,
but look at our student, there
was a time they were carrying
their chairs and benches on their
heads to school and look at what
has happened now, they have
fractionalized everything, they
have taken students from the
town to the village and from
village to the town, they now
have to walk several kilometres
before they get to school and look
at the uniform system, people
are now allowed to wear all
kinds of clandestine uniform that
they have and a good example
is what happened in Iwo when
the Egungun (Masquerade)
people wore their dress, the
Sango worshipers wore their
own, Muslim wore their own
and of course, their hijab that
he has allowed into our schools.
Not that hijab is bad, is just that
we must be able to see the faces
of our students and we are able

to address them face to face. If
our girls are beautiful, we want
to see them, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the way they
are created by God and if God
wanted them to be hidden, then
he would have made a mask to
cover their faces when they were
coming to earth or make sure
!
#
looking as they are, they have
been born the way they have
been born, so there is no point
hiding their face. And also, I want
to say that if you want to build
any school for goodness sake,
you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t waste the money of
the government of Osun, destroy
many classrooms because you
want to build a school. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see
anywhere in the world where
you have to destroy buildings
because you want to build a
school, and what schools are they
building? I am an authority in
preferred buildings, he is using
the worst case of prefabrication, I
am the chairman of a developing
company and I know that that
kind of a thing is not good
and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same mistake that
was made in Lagos in Dolphin
Estate where they used prefab,
solid precast system for that
place and what is the resultant
$
!Ă&#x2019;
&
2'
money or you are not rich, you
cannot live in Dolphin Estate
and most of the Estates were
built with precast system and
that is the same problem he is
trying to create in Osun state. I
can tell you the cheapest form
! &
)&(
)&(
brought them, he has gone to
China and bring when there are
"
(
Spain, Italy, like America who
are the fathers in this industry.
You see, there are a lot of things
he is doing because nobody can
check him and I want to come to
opon imo, what he has brought
is Ipad and Ipad is 20, 30 dollars
in China and these ipads were
made in China, I am a fellow
of Nigerian Society and also a
fellow of Nigerian Computer
Professional Registration Council
and I can tell you that what
you have in there may not be
what the students wanted but
the only aspect that I like in it is
that he has been able to capture
most of the textbooks into the
ipad but not at the ridiculous
price we heard it contracted out
to his sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not

palatable at all, that is not how
to rule people, that is not how to
$ '
" "!
know what it takes and what
is happening, not to people in
Osun, they may think because
Lagos is well endowed and well
educated and we are backward
here, we are not backward, most
of us that are making waves in
Lagos are from Osun here, so we
know what is happening and let
us sound a note of warning, what
they should do is they should
let people like us see their opon
imo and let us evaluate it, let us
know how much they contracted
it out, let us know the people that
even sat and recommended it
to the government, all these we
need to know, they should not
be just wasting our money, go
round, you can never see most of
our contractors working in Osun
because they have never given
them any contract, even to build
ordinary fence, they come from
Lagos to build fence for us, so
there are a lot of many things that
is happening that we will change.
We are going to bring the right
&
'
&
and we are going to showcase
&'%
& &

I want to plead with
those who intend to
rig to desist, enough
is enough, we had the
worst of situation in
Osun and we want
this state to develop,
please allow this state
to develop and if they
donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do, I will plead
with the gods of this
state to deal with them
because they are only
coming in to this state
to steal

Sen. Fajinmi
many years ago, I built my
industry many years ago, I built
2
rent any place where I leave, ok,
so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any need to steal
money other than to return back
where I have take, I surely taken
from Osun, they have voted me
in two times into the senate and
this time around, I am going for
governorship and I am going
to showcase to the people how
things would be done well and
things must be well done.

for the citizenry of Osun if you

)
! &(
to let you know is that we are
going back to the basis. We are
going re-invent and go back to
the basis of Awolowo and Bola

%)
!
qualitative education. We are in
an era where we have university
students speaking bad English
because of their exposure. If
we can provide good teachers,
well trained, we will send them
to Nigerian teachers Institute,
pay them good salaries, we will
%)
foundation of any development
is our teachers; we need to get
good teachers and teach our
students well; we already have
enough classrooms, when we
donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have good classrooms
or whether as to the situation
!
!'
classrooms, then we rebuild.
Qualitative education means
the teacher, you have to teach
the teachers and there must
be continuous assessment of
teachers because most teachers
now go to school to trade, who
monitors them? In the past,
there is used to be Inspectors of
Education, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t evenknow
whether we have inspectors
in our schools because we
donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see them. In those days,
when Inspectors were coming
to school, you would see the
teachers well behaved and
%)! &'
to the classrooms telling the
children to be well behaved that
today is a special day and they
would have prepared for it in the
last few weeks, and they come
regularly. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that
again; we are going to introduce
that. We will have books for the
students, laboratories; we shall
have all the things they would

%)
5
!

will do is water and electricity.
Nobody can say he can turn on
tap in his in his house unless he
has borehole. Look at electricity,
we should not relegate it to
that of the government alone,
government has said any private
company can come and have
Private-Public Partnership
with them and start generating
electricity and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very easy
to generate electricity, even
from hydro, you can generate
electricity, we can dam so many
of this rivers and get electricity
from them. We have solar, we can
'
roofs that we have in Osun
and generate power and those
powers generated would be used
for electricity and we sell the rest.
We call it hungry system. Even
wind, in the night there is wind,
we only need a small wind to
rotate the generatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turbine and
all these things are things that
we are going to make sure that
we practice when we come in
but we come with good intention
to set things up and do it very
!%)
5
!
talk about is re-engineering our
rural areas; our rural areas must
be able to have all the things that
Â&#x2020;&
&
within the area so that our people
would not need to move to the
city to congest those few cities.
Some come to Osogbo to congest
it, they come to Iwo congest it,
they go to Lagos to congest it, if
we have amenities in these rural
areas, there wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be need for
relocating to the urban areas.
What about industrialization, we
! &
( |
)
we learn from them, we will have
small scale industries, we would
have industries we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need
more than ten people to operate
and be productive and whatever
it produced, we can sell it, we can
also we have markets in Nigeria
and Nigeria as
one of the biggest market in
the West Africa and African
region, we can also export most
of this things. I will you can
go to China and see what they
*
can have three industries and
they would be performing to
optimum and they would be
selling and exporting, that is
what we need to do in Nigeria, if
I tell you, our brains in Nigeria,
we are well endowed, God has
given us more than necessary,
Continued on Page 81

19

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Opinion
OUR VISION
To support Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quest for justice
through intellectual approach

Saturday Newswatch
www.mydailynewswatchng.com

OUR MISSION

-Tradition built on Truth

To fight for justice using intellectual approach, balanced,
indepth reporting; providing a veritable platform for Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
growth, deploying our God-given talent and resources
through enduring commitment and loyalty that will
justify public confidence

crave the indulgence of the able
governor of Lagos State, Babatunde
Fashola (SAN), to listen to the cries
of commuters who use Berger-Mowe
expressway as their only transit point for
going to and fro Lagos Island and erect a
pedestrian bridge across the road.
Passengers from Berger-Mowe and
'
&Â&#x20AC; &Â&#x2C6;'
|{(&(
{(
Â&#x20AC;&#
{Â&#x20AC;&!
! &
mental and physical torture on this road.
The moment they alight from the buses,
crossing over to other side of the express
road becomes a herculean task.
Many commuters had at one time
or another been crushed to death or
maimed for life by speeding and reckless
drivers, who lack human feelings.
Two months ago, a woman with a
baby strapped at her back was hit by
"
&'! " $
without a backward look. The woman
was rushed to the hospital where she
!
%
Only two weeks ago, it was a middleaged man that was crushed to death
in the night when he came down from

a bus popularly called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Danfoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and
" Â&#x20AC; &
%
On Tuesday, May 12, 2014, at about
8.45 p.m., another horrible incident
almost took place in the same spot when
two young girls were trying to cross
the road, one white bus with an Oyo
State plate number, hit two of them,
&
Â&#x20AC;&
legs while the other had bruises. They
were however, taken to an undisclosed
hospital for treatment.
I feel worried that while passengers
struggled to cross the expressway,
drivers, especially trailer and bus
''
"' !
& ! !
let them cross.
There is no day or week that passes
without one bad news or another from
that bus stop. Therefore, I fervently
appeal to the able governor and his
government to urgently come to the aid
of commuters of Berger-Mowe area.
+%%|Â&#x20AC;&!
Â&#x20AC; &%

Cross fire: Fate of women, children in North East crisis
By Nkechi Odinukwe

A

s a woman and mother, I have had a lot on my
mind regarding recent political and terror events
within the only country I call home. To say I am
deeply disturbed with events in the north eastern part
of the country would be an understatement. The depth
! "
"
close colleague who told me I was making too much
out of a not too dire situation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nothing will happen,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
he said. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Things are under control, and insecurity can

'
${
&Â&#x20AC;2%'
!
reassurances, I worried more because my late mother
had recounted tales of the Nigerian civil war to me,
and repeatedly stressed that terror driven crises was
something no woman should ever pray to experience; I
worried because as a mother of four underage children,
I wanted my family safe.
Recently, I had cause to travel to another region
of Africa and of course, I had to apply for visa. I
quickly processed my application and headed to the
""
&
%
&"
when I got to the center as early as 10am and was told
that I had to come the next day as they had already
collected the maximum quota of applications for the
day. Then I askedâ&#x20AC;Ś what is this quota that has already
Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Ă&#x2019;
!6
'
a hundred applications had already been received.
`""
!
(
&
learning from a visa tout (if I am allowed to call them
that) that I needed to be at the submission center as
early as 5.30am the next day, if I wanted to submit my
application. Denying myself sleep, I rushed back to the
centre the following morning, and could not believe
my eyes when I discovered that as early as 5.30am, I
was number â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;88â&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the list. If my story ended with
the list, it would not have been so bad except that I
had to shove and be shoved by fellow Nigerians as we
& &'

visa processing centre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two lists eventually emerged
Â&#x2020;&
'
legitimacy.
That was when I asked myself and also to the hearing
!
Ă&#x2DC;! "
&
this country that my Nigerian brothers would be
'
&
""
'
&
Ă&#x2019;!$

from this country and my own, after all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still
Ă&#x2019;! & & &
interested in immigrating in droves to this unknown
!
&! &
&Â&#x20AC;
(
& 'Â&#x20AC;
Ă&#x2019;
&
!
&
(
I actually got my answer a few weeks later. The visa
process took longer than was considered reasonable,
&
"Â&#x201C;
!'
Ă&#x2DC;"
experience.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
+
" " ((
(
the other countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s airport. I was surprised to see that
things were not only working, but working like other
countries I had visited in Europe. Second knock came
' &Â&#x20AC;
"
&& &
2%
it worse was that whenever I mentioned I was from
Nigeria, people painted a picture of a country with the
fastest growing economy, and all the great stories that

!%
'
!
deeply excited and looked forward to encountering
a brother or sister on the street. Luck shined on me
a few days into my trip when I bumped into three
&
% (
!
!&''
!Â&#x20AC;
!
%
!
not surprised to hear that they were hawking on the
streets, but what made the discussion insightful for me
!
& Â&#x20AC;& !
from the hopelessness pervading our country. I was
truly disturbed to hear from one of them that he lied to
obtain refugee status in order to roam the streets, and
sell few pairs of winter boots he had in his backpack.
Every encouragement from me that home may be
'
&
" &&
was vehemently opposed. In the young manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words,
Ă&#x2DC;{&
Â&#x20AC;
& &''
&
" "
Ă&#x2122;
Â&#x20AC;
&

To be continued next week

20

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Opinion

Need for community based policing
services of the NPF to subvert the liberty
of ordinary citizens.
In an article authored by James
on Devolution of Power rejected
X
(
Â&#x2019;|($
the establishment of state police,
Police Againâ&#x20AC;?, published by Sahara
and ipso facto, retained the current
Reporters, he gave us a taste of what a
centralized Police force. Their conclusion privatised Police force feels like--how
is an example of what we get when the
the rich and well-connected use the
elites are paid handsomely to socialise,
Police as instrument of intimidation
and perpetuate their interests while
"
%
those of us on the fringes continue to
cannot forget in a hurry the blatant
live in delusion that they are on our side. display of power by Mr. Chris Ubah, a
)"
&
close ally of former President Obasanjo
misunderstanding of the duties of the
and private citizen, who levied â&#x20AC;&#x153;warâ&#x20AC;?
Police in a democracy as well as the
to unseat former Governor Chris Ngige,
fact that their world is diametrically
and held Anambra State to ransom. In
opposed to our world. Policing is not
Nigeria, one could literally purchase the
about demonstration of strength or
services of the NPF and have them do
power, rather, it is about community
Â&#x20AC;
5"
|(
safety and service, which suggests
$ 2Â&#x2019;
Â&#x2026;!%
shared responsibility between the
commonplace to see a public-paid police
law enforcement department and the
"
2
community. If we are serious about the
our elites drafted to provide him or her
stabilization of the political, economic,
with personal security.
and social relationships of individuals

! 2
and groups in our multicultural, multithat state governors should not be
religious society, it is necessary to
allowed to control the police because
evaluate the law enforcement dimension of the potential risks involved in such
in the equation of building a solid nation. an enterprise. Indeed, if our current
The current policing model that ignores
the contributions of communities in
policy formulations and law enforcement
is unacceptable.
I am directing my inquiry to the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for reasons
that will be clearer shortly. The mention
of the NPF conjures an image of an
agency mired in dysfunction, terror,
corruption and ineptitude. My intent,
nonetheless is not to disparage the NPF,
neither do I advocate their continued
"&
history (which is common knowledge).
Rather, this is a response to what I
&
&
Devolution of Power concerning the
" %)
righty rejected the move for the
establishment of state police. However,
it did nothing to rectify the current
extrajudicial use of the services of the
NPF by the government and private
individuals against fellow citizens. I
experience with the state governors
doubt if it ever crossed their minds to
is any guide, they exercise enormous
look into the recurring issue of police
powers due in part to the immunity
brutality on innocent citizens because
privileges in the constitution, and neither
they (the elites) are the culprits.
{
{
#
In an earlier article published by
General of the Federation has sought
Sahara Reporters entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Governor
the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination of the latitude
Obiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Donation of Vehicles to the
of their powers. They have constituted
Nigerian Police Force: Great Prognosis
themselves as cogs in the wheels of
but Wrong Prescriptionâ&#x20AC;?, I had argued
our democracy. They treat the local
against the establishment of a state
governments with condescension as if
police force. I suggested a model of
they (local governments) are the creations
policing that would involve partnerships of state governments and not creations of
between the communities and the NPF.
the constitution, and intercept their funds
Since then, my position has evolved and
! &Â&#x20AC;&
%)
currently, I urge for the abolishment
imbroglios within the governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; forum
of the NPF in its entirety. The NPF
"
&
"
!
do not serve any useful utility, and
could experience in our political history a
their continued retention is a waste of
&" '
taxpayersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; money. I will root for the
president. With that backdrop, I would
establishment of a community Police
hesitate to trust that a state governor
force instead of a centralised or state
would exercise reasonable discretion in
police because it makes policing sense
the use of a state police, not to mention
and is feasible. Besides, it will check
that their state assemblies are scared of
the current abuse of power by the
them. Our governors are â&#x20AC;&#x153;lunaticsâ&#x20AC;? who
government or individuals who use the
must be prevented from having access to

By Nwike (S) Ojukwu

T

dangerous weapons because they would
use it against any and every one.
Of course, the same argument could
be advanced against the use of the Police
by the Federal Government without
judicial mandate. For instance, as I
was about to complete this essay, my
!!
"
President Jonathan had ordered the
arrest of some members of Ohaneze
Youth Council in Enugu State for
holding a meeting while he was on a
visit to the state. It reminded me of the
Â&#x2019;
Â&#x2026;
!
7 '
Jim Nwobodo of old Anambra State and
Police Commissioner Bishop Eyitene, as
well as Governor Rotimi Amaechi and
\
+!+
&%)
implication of President Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order
is that whenever a president is visiting,
all commercial and social activities
must cease. This is sheer nonsense
and an unnecessary display of power.
Acts like this make us a laughingstock
%
counterintuitive to halt commercial
activities because the President is
visiting, and expect businesspersons

to pay taxes to support governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
projects. Clearly, President Jonathan is
chasing imaginary enemies of his reelection bid by ordering the arrest of lawabiding citizens. Such demonstration of
power is over broad and I thought that
'!%
In particular, our experiences with the
NPF regarding how the people in the
corridors of power have successfully
manipulated their services, provide
even stronger argument against the
establishment of a state police force, and
a re-evaluation of the current model.
These unnecessary demonstrations of
power present real and live threat to our
freedom as enshrined in the constitution.
The interference with the rights of the
citizens by the government-instigated
police or private citizens acting with the
connivance of a public-remunerated
Police without judicial authority or
oversight is one of the reasons that
I advocate the establishment of the
community Police force. The rag tag
vigilante in my community provides

!
&
&
of NPF in our cities that do nothing
than play draughts (checkers) and
extort money from vulnerable citizens
under the colour of authority. The
&'
how to secure the citizens from the
overreaching activities of a police force
&"
*&
presidency, a state governor, as well as
private persons and opt for community
police
The duties of the NPF have colonial
coloration. The British Consul
"
Nigeria in 1861 as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Consular Guardâ&#x20AC;?
to protect its property in Lagos. The
Guard metamorphosed into the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hausa
Guardâ&#x20AC;? in 1863. The Royal Niger
Company (RNC) set up the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Royal
Niger Constabularyâ&#x20AC;? with the sole
purpose of protecting the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
interests. When the RNC transferred
its administration of the country to the
protectorates, the Constabulary was
split. Since then we have had a model of
policing that is exclusive in character and
operations, with an inspector-general as
the head. Our founding fathers adopted
this model at independence. They
merely replaced the British interest with
the government and eliteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interests,
and left the citizens in the cold. In
essence, our Police force is founded on
providing security to the government,
the elites, and their interests. They do
not have anything to do with securing
our communities. This should explain
the anti-people or community posture
of our law enforcement agents. Again,
it should explained why the Police
would readily read the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Riot Actsâ&#x20AC;?, that
provides for punishment for engaging in
impermissible assembly, to the citizens
when they suspect that the interests of
the government or the â&#x20AC;&#x153;big shotsâ&#x20AC;? are
under threat. Unfortunately, it is the
same elites and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;big shotsâ&#x20AC;? that are
supposedly discussing our future at the
National Conference.
Over the years, the way and manner
the Police have conducted their activities
have been reviled, condemned and
rightfully so because their conduct have
not been in the interest of the citizens.
No one captured the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perception
of the NPF so eloquently like Professor
Sabella Abidde in his article, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The
Nigerian Police Forceâ&#x20AC;?, published by
gamji.com. He describes the NPF as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the
institutional decadenceâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a cathedral
of debaucheryâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;corrupt and easily
corruptedâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;lazy and loaf around
Â&#x2026;Â&#x2019;'
&
%Â&#x2026;~
Â&#x2019;
is therefore not uncommon that when
university students feel like venting
their rage, they go in search of the Police.
When soldiers want people to smack
around and buildings to burn, they go in
search of the Police and Police stations.
When labour unions want to release
some of their pent-up anger, they seek
the Police. Not even the politicians give a
hoot about the police...â&#x20AC;?

Global poverty rating:Govt,
citizens sing discordant tunes
A recent World Bank
global per capital ratio
rating which ranked
Nigeria as the 5th
poorest country in
the world has pitched
the citizens and the
government in a war
of relevance and truth
with the President
saying the assertion is
false and the citizens
saying otherwise.
JOHNMARK
UKOKO reports.

T

he 2013 global per capital ratio
rating of the World Bank rated
Nigeria the 5th poorest country in its
human per capital ratio as over 70 percent
of Nigerians live on less on one United
States of America dollar per day.
The president and members of his
economic team were quick to dismiss the
report, on the ground that rich Nigerians
have the highest numbers of private jets in
the world.
While it is a fact that Nigerians own
many private jets and the most expensive
and fast cars in the world, over 80 percent
of Nigerians still live in abject poverty.
An economist, Mr. Joe Idonije of Crystal
Y'8
'
&
8
'!!
Saturday Newswatch recently, said that
it is wrong for government to based the
fact that few Nigerians are super rich to
conclude that Nigerians are not poor and
the country is not a poor nation.
According to him, it is wrong to rate
Nigeria as a rich nation because few of
our nationals own â&#x20AC;&#x153;the highest numbers
of private jetsâ&#x20AC;? in the world. The fact
that some of our people built palatial
mansions of millions of naira, locked
them up without any one living in them
does not mean that Nigeria is a rich
country.
Idonije disclosed that many Nigerians

$
"
era and time, adding that there are many
Nigerian families of six or more, who still
live in one room apartment.
The economist stressed that the global
economic recession, and the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
economic woes have impacted negatively
on the lives of poor Nigerians.
He noted that the lack of the payment
of social security stipends to unemployed
adults in the country has compounded
the poverty situation in the country,
adding that there are millions of
Nigerians who do not have any source of
income to live on.
In his words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Apart from Ekiti State
which pay some form of stipends to their
elderly citizens, no form of social security
is paid in Nigeria, where more than 70
million are unemployed. Many traders
have been displaced from where they are
trading. Many Nigerians in the far north
'* &
&
%
So many Nigerian youths have remained
unemployed many years after graduation;
who knows how these Nigerians are
feeding?â&#x20AC;?

Jonathan

Another Nigerian, Mr. Abel Igbudu,
the principal partner of Cowries Network
Limited, a network marketing owner, told
Saturday Newswatch recently that many
Nigerian adults have been unemployed
for many years, adding that the quality of
lives of these Nigerians will be very low.
Igbudu said that each time his company
places a vacancy advert at public places
for one or few posts, the number of
applicants that turn in their application
&"%
â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a fact that the unemployment
situation in the country is serious. Each
"
'
in a public place for few openings, the

&
""
$
6&%+
searching for employment; therefore they
are poor, as simple as that.â&#x20AC;? He stressed.
This call to remembrance the ill fated
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
botched recruitment exercise where over
650,000 applicants applied for about
4,500 positions, as a case study that many
Nigerian youths are unemployed or

It is a fact that the
unemployment situation
in the country is serious.
to place an advert in
a public place for few
openings, the number
of applications from
us. Many Nigerians
are daily searching for
employment; therefore
they are poor, as simple
as that

Okonjo-Iweala
under employed. He noted that many
'
some women are engaged in, as many
men have no form of employment.
During a recent radio call in
programme, monitored in Lagos, some
respondents agreed with the World Bank
that many Nigerians are very poor as
a result of governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unfavourable
policies as well as the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic
situation.
One of the callers, Mr. Uganmadu
Asiegbu, who called from Orlu, Imo
State, stressed that many Nigerians who
live in the rural areas are grappling with
poverty, adding that corruption menace
in the three tiers of government has
compounded the poverty situation of
Nigerians, mostly residents of the rural
areas.
He lamented that many aged in the
villages, whose children have left the
'
'
a day, adding that some of the elderly
citizens practically beg to feed.
In his words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrong for
government to access Nigerian quality
of lives by the few super rich in
Asokoro, Matiama, Lekki, Ajah and
Victoria Garden City, all in Abuja and
Lagos, in addition to few super rich in
Port Harcourt. Let the President visit
Ebonyi, Sokoto, Benue and other rural
communities in Nigeria and see the
quality of lives of majority of Nigerians.
Another caller, Mr. Kunle Muda, who
called in from Dopemu area of Lagos,
\
{
Rock in Abuja, and goes to places where
" !
!
(\
to know the true situation of majority of
Nigerians.
He stressed that the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministers
'
are busy buying bullet proof cars, which
may deceive the President to believe
that majority of Nigerians are living in
Ă&#x203A;&
%
According to Muda, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our ministers
and the various top governmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
'
5"
'
their garages. Some even buy bullet proof
cars, so our leaders will believe that all
Nigerians are living in prosperity. Many
of our politicians are building palatial
mansions all over the world; these are
the indices our President relied on to say
Nigerians are not poor.â&#x20AC;?
Continued on Page 73

Panacea to building collapse
Recently, many buildings
have collapsed across the
country, and various
stakeholders have adduced
reasons behind the
incidents. Surprisingly
however, none of the
owners of the buildings
or the developers have
been prosecuted. A cross
section of Nigerians has
put the question whether
there is a way to prevent
buildings from collapsing.
JOHNMARK UKOKO
reports.

+

any houses have collapsed in the
recent years across the country,
leaving in its wake loss of lives and
billions of naira. Both completed houses
and on-going building projects have came
down in heaps of sand and dust with a lot
of people unaware of the reason behind it.
Recently, the Nigeria Society of Engineers
(NSE) suggested that the National
Assembly should enact a law, jailing for life
anyone whose actions or inaction caused a
building collapse.
NSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call arose because despite the so
many cases of buildings collapse across the
country, nobody has been prosecuted for
$
%
The questions on the lips of many
Nigerians boils down to the causes of the
many building collapse in the country,
!
&
authorities to identify the owners of the
houses which has collapsed in the past, in
order to bring them to book.
Recently, some players in the cement
&
Â&#x201A;%
as the major cause of building collapse in
the country. These players alleged that the

!
&Â&#x201E;Â&#x201A;%
the antidote to building collapse.
According to the promoters of the new
Â&#x201E;Â&#x201A;%
!
about stronger structures, and assist in
reducing building collapse cases in the
&
%)Â&#x201A;%
cement has been responsible for increase in
the cases of building collapse in the country
because according to them, it is easily
adulterated by wicked businessmen.
This assertion however, is faulted by
the Standards Organisation of Nigeria
(SON), whose image maker told Saturday
Newswatch that his agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation
into the causes of building collapse in the
country has not identify the main cause.
He added that all brands of cement
manufactured in the country were of high
quality as made in Nigerian cement are in
high demand in the countries were they
5"
consumers, artisans in the building and
construction sectors and professionals are
in the best position to know which brand
%
A respondent said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The claim by
" Â&#x201E;Â&#x201A;%
Â&#x201A;%
&
#
&
banned is not borne out of their love for
Nigerians. Why have they not reduced
the price of their product in the last two
years, when they announced that Nigeria
!&
5"
&
%
&Â&#x201E;Â&#x201A;%
!
Â&#x201A;%
!
producing, why did they not say all this

Gov Fashola
while that the brand was of low quality?â&#x20AC;?
Despite all this claims and counter claims,
Saturday Newswatchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation has
shown that substandard building materials
used in the construction of houses by
building contractors and artisans are one of
the main causes of building collapse in the
country.
!
*&5
substandard and fake building materials
from China and other parts of Asia has led
many building contractors, artisans and
building developers to use them in building
and constructions, leading to the collapse
many houses.
{
&+%+&&
& "!
said he has been in building business for
"Â&#x201E;
sub-standard building materials are
everywhere in the country.
In his words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are so many
substandard building materials in the
&
%
&
5"
&
you will buy such materials without
knowing. The high cost of quality and
genuine building materials have made
some project owners or contractors to buy
sub-standard building materials. The truth
&
collapse arose because the contractors
and artisans use sub-standard building
materials, poor quality cement and blocks,
and a host of other factors.â&#x20AC;?
Stakeholders are blaming high cost of
cement as being partly responsible for the
cases of increase in building collapse in the
recent times. They say many people who
are into building are not rich enough to buy
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;
currently sold.

There are so many very
old upstairs or many
story buildings in
places such as Agege,
Mushin, Idumota,
Idugaran, Oshodi,
Ajegunle and other
parts of Lagos, which
are over 100 years old

Gov Oshiomhole
They say the cases of building collapse
will continue unabated as long as the
price of cement, which is a major item in
the building and construction industry
continue to go beyond the rich of many
Nigerians.
Nigerians say smart block molders
will continue to mold as many blocks as
possible from one bag of cement with as
much sand as they wish, in order to make
&"
&"" &
!
quality blocks.
An artisan in the building industry,
+%{ !
due to the high cost of land in the cities,
many owners of building which was
constructed many years ago, will prefer to
*
&
! &
considering the fact that the old building
does not have the capacity to carry the
* %
He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The price of plots of land in
the cities is daily increasing, as a result,
those who already have buildings tend
*
Â&#x2020;& (
more money. And because the house does
not have the capacity for such number of
* &! !
(
" "%+
" "
would have preferred to buy new plots of
land, but the many millions involved in
buying a plot, dissuade them, and made
&
5
&%Â&#x2026;
Findings also showed that building plans
approval authorities are accused of failing
to perform their duties professionally.
+
&
negligence and corruption, a situation that
has led to approval of many buildings
which ordinarily should not be approved.
Y (
the hasty nature some contractors and
developers carry-out their projects as
another issue that usually lead to building
collapse in the country.
They also blamed state governments
like Lagos State which seems to lack the
political will to pull down ancient houses
that are decades old, adding that many of
such houses are all over the state waiting to
come down on their own.
A respondent said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are so many
very old upstairs or many story buildings
"&{+&
&
Idugaran, Oshodi, Ajegunle and other
" 8 ! 'Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;
old. These types of houses ought to have
been demolished by the state government.
Why do we have to wait for the houses
to come down on their own, and kill or
injure poor people who live or trade in such
environment?â&#x20AC;?
~'
&
Continued on Page 74

Dispense Error:Bank customers urged
to shun ATM in emergencies

P

resident of Bank Customers
Association of Nigeria (BCAN),
Dr â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Uju Ogbunka, has urged bank
customers not to depend on Automated
)+
3{)+4 "
emergency situations.
Ogbunka said in an interview in Lagos
that such act should be discouraged
because of dispense error associated with
{)+%
He was reacting to a barrage of
complaints associated with dispense error
{)+
&
%
`"
""
!
{)+
debit bank customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; accounts without
physically paying them.
)
&
cash jam in the machines and link problem
between bank servers and their service
providers among others.
Ogbunka said the BCAN has assisted
bank operators and regulators to
!&
disputes that arise in the course of banking
transactions.
~
{)+!"
&
error being a mechanical device, noting
that it could be caused by irregular power
supply.
Ogbunka urged customers to embrace
other alternative channels of payment
such Point of Sale terminals (PoS), online
banking and agent banking.
Ogbunka, who is also the Registrar,
Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN),
added that customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; acceptance of other
channels of payment would boost the
&
" %
~
&
!

6
the growth of the economy.
+
(6
Progressive Shareholders Association of
Nigeria (PSAN), said that CBN and bank
managing directors had to collaborate to
("
{)+%
(6"
&
!5
caused the error.

Association seeks support to
boost fish production in Delta

T

he Nigeria Union of Fishermen and
Seafood Dealers (NUFAS), Delta State
chapter, has urged the government to
&"" &
" &
the state.
The Chairman of the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival
\

+{6
made the call in Asaba.
lots of potential to meet the protein needs
of the people through adequate supply of
&
&""
government to boost production.
She said that the farmers required inputs
&
to be able to increase production.
The chairman noted that the body required
essential nutrients to function well, stressing
that such nutrients could be derived from the
&"
%
~

&
festival in the state would hold on Friday to
&!
" &
%
She said that the festival tagged â&#x20AC;&#x153;Operation
Fish for Every Delta Household and
Beyondâ&#x20AC;?, was aimed at enabling youths
production.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;To further deepen this awareness
campaign, this chapter will organise its

&
'
at Egboide Waterside, Ughelli South Local
Government Area of the state.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, we are appealing for funds from
government, corporate bodies and other
stakeholders to enable us to successfully host
this festival.â&#x20AC;?
Ndah noted that the association had keyed

May 24, 2014

Kpakor to Eagles:

Focus on Argentina,
not Messi
No regrets
as Kazarian
quits TNA
>>Pg.31

John Terry
swims with
Dolphins
>>Pg.30

26

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Sports/News

Kpakor to Eagles: Focus
on Argentina, not Messi
Victor Enyinnaya

E

x-international
Moses Kpakor,
has warned the Super
Eagles about the dangers
of concentrating on
Argentina captain Lionel
Messi, advising that the
Nigerian team must pay
Â&#x2020;&
players of the side instead
of singling out a player.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eagles must not
make the mistake of over
concentrating on him
thereby leaving other
issues that would be vital
for the overall success of
the squad.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;No doubt the coach
would map out his
strategies in any given
match. There must be
strong a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;policeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; man for
Messi. Eagles must also
avoid instilling fear of
Messi in the entire side.
Such move could result
into panic and result into
making some silly and
costly mistakes. After all
the Argentine does not
play with both legs at
the same time therefore
marking him out tight
and intelligently remains
the only way out,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he
noted.
Kpakor restates that

BCC Lions FC of Gboko
ace added that what
will go for this set of
Eagles in Brazil will be
their perseverance, grit,
direction and focus to
excel in the world Cup
football summit. He
believes that it must
have by now done on the
leadership of the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF)

strategic planning coupled
with tactical discipline
would be an anti-dote
for the last group game.
Messi he insists is like any
other meticulous lad in
%
{
Champions have that
notion at the back of their
minds, there is no how
we will not come out of
the match with our heads
high. He stressed the need
to ensure unnecessary
tackles would be totally

avoided.
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;One of the worse
consequences is if our
players lose sleep over
him it will adversely
$&%)!!
&
&
importance on him, but
have him in mind. He can
mess any team up if you
give him the latitude to
operate. However, with
vigilance being the watch
! Ă&#x2DC;
man riot squadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; can do to

a side that prepares itself
well in advance for the
%&" &
Â&#x20AC;&' '$'
strategies play as if he
does not exist in Argentine
line up. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t under rate
his sublime dynamite like
skills but it is my belief
that Keshi will instruct
&$
($'
then stop him from doing
any damage,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
The former defunct

Okokuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foundation brings
free healthcare to Nigerians
was his belief that any
attempt to give back
to the society without
providing healthcare
was incomplete.
Mark Ogagan
The 1984 Afcon
silver medal winner
he Greater
and
member of the
Tomorrow
Flying Eagles team
Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Foundation, a brainchild Â&#x20AC;"*
World Cup in Mexico in
of Nigeria exinternational, Chief Paul 1983, commended Dr.
Okoku, has entered into Seidu for his sterling
contributions in the area
strategic partnership
of healthcare delivery
with foremost surgeon,
to indigent Nigerians,
}8&
0+
'
!
free surgeries to lessthat a new dawn will
privileged children in
soon be ushered into
rural areas of Nigeria.
+
In a chat with
patients, whom he called
Newswatch sports,
to come out in their
Okoku said that he was
droves when the train of
moved to enter into
the foundation hits their
the partnership with
towns and villages any
Dr. Seidu because of
moment from now.
the many cleft cases
Responding, Dr.
in Nigeria, stressing
Seidu said that he was
that the kind support
moved by Okokuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
of corporations and
passion for helping
wealthy Nigerians
less-privileged ones in
could help reduce, if
not totally eradicate the society, noting that if
everyone was thinking
disease from society.
like this, the lives of
Okoku said that it

T

+
deformities would have
been reduced, if not
eradicated.
He encouraged Okoku
to stay committed to
the cause, stating that
the task was tough but
surmountable, adding
that his involvement
was going to spark
others to join in the
crusade to provide
better healthcare

services to indigent
Nigerians.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The lives of these
people will have been
+'
reasons if people were
thinking like Paul
Okoku. I am glad that
you have joined our
health train and hope
that this partnership
will help the cause of
humanityâ&#x20AC;?, said Dr.
Seidu.

that there is every need
for all and sundry to rally
round the team aside from
the already packaged
motivation for optimum
result. There are materials
in the squad that can
lead the country to her
glorious football height in
the forthcoming summer
2014 Brazil global football
showpiece, he maintains.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nurture our
talents â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Oyedeji

C

aptain, national
male basketball
team, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Tigers,
Olumide Oyedeji, has
urged the South-West
governors to draw
up a comprehensive
programme to nurture
newly discovered talents
at the ongoing DAWN
Games.
He told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
in Lagos that he was
impressed with the level of
skills that were exhibited
$
"
the participating students.
``The skills that were
shown during the Games
are a sign that Nigeria
is not lacking in sports
talents.
``What is needed
"
for students is a well
thought-out training
programme for those with
potential to do this nation
proud in international
tournaments.
``The core goal of
the programme for the
national team hopefuls
among the students should
be to nurture them so as
to sustain their zeal for
sport,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he said.
According to Oyedeji,
the DAWN Games are

one event that will bring
sustainable transformation
to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports sector.
In the same vein, Ben
Orakpo, Lagos State
Badminton Coach, said the
Games would be a source
of encouragement to other
geographical regions in
Nigeria to organise similar
events.
He said the competition
would boost the
popularity of sports in
the South-West region,
improve sports business
and marketing as well as
encourage more youths to
become sportsmen.
``Governors of the
participating states
can also reach out to
neighbouring countries to
organise similar studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
sports competitions.
``Our political leaders
are now coming to the
realisation that sport is a
viable tool for education,
culture and economic
diplomacy.
``It is important that
the South-West governors
continue to host this
event because of its
social, economic, mental
"
students and the sportsloving public,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he said.

27

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

League Watch

Maduabuchi
Kalu
08080669826

maduabuchi.kalu@mydailynewswatchng.com

Why Akwa lost top position T

A

kwa United Football
Club of Uyo surprised
many Nigerian
League watchers at the
commencement of the 2013/14
Nigeria Professional Football
League (NPFL), when the
Governor Godswill Akpabioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
boys handed Gombe United
at the Uyo Township Stadium
&
maximum points.
They followed it up with
!!
8
Nasarawa United and another
victory at home against visiting
Kaduna United and that was
followed also by another
away draw against El-Kanemi
Warriors of Maiduguri, thereby
gathering a total of eight points
in four matches.
Akwa continued in the good
run of form until the sixth
week and deservedly led the
table and on the seventh week,
they lost the lead to the present
occupiers, Sharks Football
Club of Port Harcourt and
Nigerians did not know why

&
""
position after Week 14 matches
on Wednesday as they lost to
Bayelsa United by alone goal.
Though nobody can say
that Akwa are not doing well
considering the fact that they
"
side in the (Nigeria Professional
Football League (NPFL)
because their position on the
league log at the moment has
surprised many. Having said
that however, what people did
not is the real reasons, why
the team lost their lead on the
league table and this reasons
are what League Watch is
about to be make public. An
insider, who probably does not
want his name in print for fear
"&
League Watch that the problem
is predicated on the money as
according him: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole
problems of Akwa United is
predicated on lack of money,â&#x20AC;?
he began.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I must be very frank with
you. The problem is lack of
money for the players. Can you

believe that the players are yet
to receive their April salary and
May is about to end.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The sign-on fees being
owned some of the players
'
% &
aware that LMC abolished
the issue of sign-on fee from
this season and asked clubs to
pay the previous ones already
owed the players but here in
Akwa, the players are yet to
be paid their arrears of signon fees and salaries are not
regular.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, the match
bonuses are coming as at when
due. The players are not being
owed any match bonuses
but they need their salaries
to enable them face their
challenges because almost all
of them are bread winners of
their respective families and it
$
%
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Again, it is unbelievable that
the team has no bus of their
!
Â&#x2020;&$
them. At times they will go
and hire a rickety bus that will
keep the players on the road
thereby risking their lives and
disorganising them when they
have away games.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even as I am speaking with
you, (Tuesday morning) we
have a match against Bayelsa
United in Benin, the players
are still here because there is
no bus yet to enable them start
the journey to Benin to enable
them honour their mid-week
match against Bayelsa United,â&#x20AC;?
the insider lamented.
He, however, expressed the
belief that the state government
led by Godswill Akpabio is
(
!
'!
solutions to the problems.

Complacency cost us Abia
Warriors match â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Amele

M

Bayelsa United,
George Amele, has
sensationally declared that
complacency robbed them of
victory over Abia Warriors of
Umuahia. The team against all
expectations, defeated Bayelsa
United last midweek match by
3-1, at Bayelsa United home
ground.
Before the match, Abia
Warriors were placed 19th after
10 matches with 11 points to
! $
&

victory over Bayelsa United
and the last weekend home
victory ensured that the Abia
Y
!
occupying placed 14th with 17
points after 12 matches.
However, Amele said
they had learnt their lessons
assuring that such a thing
would never be allowed to
happen again in the near
future.
Amele stated this in a chat
with League Watch during the
week saying that every of their
matches would be approached
as if it is the last match for the
club. He, however, said that
such things do happen in
football as they never expected
Abia Warriors to post any
threat to them but it turned
out that the Warriors from
Umuahia surprised them.
According to him: â&#x20AC;&#x153;These
things do happen in football.
But the truth is that we never
expected Abia Warriors to
beat us but it happened and
we have put it behind us,â&#x20AC;? he
began.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we underrated

wo time African
champions, Enyimba
International Football
Club of Aba have perfected
plans to secure the maximum
points in tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
encounter against rock
Football Club of Bayelsa State.
){
side who have not lived up
to expectation would want
to improve their position on
the league table with this
encounter as it seems that
they are bouncing back to
reckoning after they defeated
El-Kanemi Football Club
of Maiduguri in their mid
week encounter in faraway
Jalingo, the home ground of
El Kanemi Football Club.
On their part, Nembe City
would like to prove that they
after the early challenges they
&$& 8+2

Enyimba ready for
Nembe clash

refusal to allow them be part
of the 2013/14 league season
for their inability to meet the
stipulated conditions but
was later prevailed upon by
well meaning members of
the society that led to their
rescinding their decision.

It is certainly going to be
an interesting encounter as
fans would be treated with
the best of football artistry as
both sides play good football.
The experience of Sani Kaita
will be brought to bear in this
encounter by Enyimba, as the
former international marked
his debut with a goal that
gave Enyimba victory in the
game against Kaduna United
at the Enyimba International
Stadium last Sunday.
So, the two sides are going
'
&
maximum points at stake
tomorrow afternoon inside
the Enyimba International
Stadium, Aba.

Wolves â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get better â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Etu

W

arri Wolves
Football Club
are banking on
the second stanza of the
2013/14 league season
&
the league this season
according the Media
club, Moses Etu in a
chat with League Watch
during the week.
According to Etu,
'!
the second stanza because
they are going to have
more home matches
than they had in the
6'
revealed they intend to
win most of their home
matches and equally win
some away matches.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to get
stanza of the league
because we are going to
have more home games
and we intend to win
most if not all of our

them because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see how
Abia Warriors could have
NPFL MID WEEK RESULT
beaten us by 3-1. That is not to
Bayelsa 1-0 Akwa Utd
say that they are not good, of
Kaduna 2-2 Pillars
course they are good but when
El-Kanemi 1-1 Enyimba
you consider the fact that we
Heartland 1-1 Abia Warriors
beat notable names in the
league like Enyimba, Rangers
Nembe 1-0 Dolphins
you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect Bayelsa
Lobi 3-1 FC Taraba
United to lose to Abia Warrior.
Nasarawa 2-0 Giwa FC
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am not trying to
Crown 2-1 Warri Wolves
disrespect them and at that
Sharks 1-0 Rangers
time, they were second to the
last on the league table that is
MATCH
DAY 14
why it is surprising.
Akwa United FC vs Lobi Stars FC
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having said that, we have
FC Taraba vs Heratland FC
learnt our lesson and I want to
assure you that that will not
Abia Warriors FC vs Crown FC
happen again,â&#x20AC;? Amele assured.
Warri Wolves FC vs Sharks FC
On Bayelsa lost to Gombe
in Jalingo, Amele said it
Rangers Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l FC vs Gombe United FC
took the brilliance of one of
Sunshine Stars FC vs Nasarawa United FC
Gombe United players to
Giwa FC vs Kaduna United FC
score the goal that made the
$
!
Kano Pillars FC vs
he described as a good match.
El-Kanemi Warriors FC
According to him, but for
the individual brilliance of
Enyimba Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l FC vs Nembe City
the player, the match would
have ended in a draw as but
Dolphins FC
sides gave good account of
vs
Bayelsa United FC
themselves.

home matches,â&#x20AC;? Etu
began.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are where we are
at the moment because
we have more away
matches and the reverse
is going to be the case

in the second stanza.
Having said that, I want
to state that we have not
done badly is just that
we are not yet where we
would have loved to be,â&#x20AC;?
Etu said.

Pillarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll bounce
back to reckoning
â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Mailikawa

K

ano Pillars Football
Club Media
Mailikawa, has assured
the teeming fans of the
club that they are going
to bounce back and take
their rightful place on the
league table.
According to him, Pillars
will soon take their rightful
position on the league log.
Mailikawa stated this in a
chat with League Watch
during the week saying:
â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the grace of God, by
!
&
outstanding matches, we

will certainly bounce back
to take our rightful place
on the league log as we
intend to win most of our
matches.â&#x20AC;?
He, however, stated that
in football, three things
are expected. The three
things according to him
include, win, draw and
defeat and as a result one
has to accept and expect
one of the three in every
encounter because the
game is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;win some, lose
someâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. So, whatever comes
your way, you have to
accept it in good fate.

28

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Sports/EURO League
Man City plan to sign three new
players in summer window

P
World Cup: Suarez set
for knee surgery

L

iverpool and Uruguay
striker, Luis Suarez, is
set to undergo knee
surgery on Thursday and
the World Cup.
The 27-year-old won the
PFA and Football Writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
Player of the Year awards
after a superb season
with Liverpool, but it is
understood he twisted his
knee in training with his
country on Wednesday.
The Uruguayan Football
Association is optimistic
Y&6!
World Cup, with his team
((
$7 &"`
campaign against Costa
Rica on June 14 before facing
|
'
then Italy.
X&&
{
Roberto Pastoriza told
Ovacion that surgery was

looking very likely.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;According to the report I
received a while ago, they are
optimistic that he can play the
World Cup,â&#x20AC;? said Pastoriza.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Suarez trained with
discomfort and it was
decided to have an MRI scan.
There are very high chances
there will be a surgical
intervention.â&#x20AC;?
Roberto Pastoriza
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Suarez felt discomfort in
his knee and thus he had to
undergo tests. Everything
happened very fast, some
hours ago (on Wednesday
night).
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The national team medical
$
!
press secretary Matias Faral
! &
report.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The intention was
that everything was kept

report was announced today
through the Uruguayan FA
social network accounts.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything was very
surprising, Suarez trained
with discomfort and it was
decided to have an MRI scan.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The information until
a while ago was that they
were deciding what will
be done, but there are very
high chances there will be a
surgical intervention.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say anything else,
the Uruguayan FA will

&
Thursday morning.â&#x20AC;?
The former Ajax forward,
who scored 31 goals in the
Premier League as Liverpool
Â&#x20AC;& &
title in 24 years, returned to
Uruguay on Tuesday to train
with the national team, who
he helped reach the World
&"#
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;%

remier League
champions Manchester
City are likely to make
only three new signings
this summer, reports James
Cooper.
The clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key priority is
strengthening their defensive
options with winter target,
Portoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elaquim Mangala, at
the top of their shopping list.
But with City aiming to do
their business quickly, as they
did last summer, and Mangala
keen to keep his options open
until after the World Cup,
Manuel Pellegrini may swoop
for Roma centre-back Mehdi
Benatia instead.
Benatia sparkled in Serie A
last season and although he still
has four years remaining on
his deal, a fee of around ÂŁ30m
may be enough to tempt Roma
to part with one of their prized
assets.
1Â&#x2C6;(
""
+
Le Tissier give their thoughts
on Yaya Toureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s situation at
Manchester City.
City are also close to sealing
a deal for one of his Porto team
'
Fernando. The Brazilian, who
was another of Pellegriniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
winter targets, would cost an
initial fee of around ÂŁ16m.
While his arrival would
add to the number of players
who can play as defensive
&
keen to retain the services of

Scholes suggests Man Utdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Rooney may be past his best

P

aul Scholes says
there is a chance that
Wayne Rooney is past
his peak and believes he
should conserve his energy
at the World Cup.
In a detailed assessment
of Rooney in his blog for
Paddy Power, Scholes
suggested that a decision
would need to be made on
his place in the England
form quickly in Brazil,
but also insisted that the
Manchester United player
could have a successful
&&
%
Rooney will be under
pressure to shine for Roy
Hodgsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men after
disappointing at a couple
of previous World Cups,
but Scholes reckons that
his enthusiasm needs to be
controlled.
)
thinks Rooney may have
reached his potential a
couple of years ago and
now, at the age of 28,
must keep his discipline to
perform the role that is best
for the team.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying Wayne
needs to be dropped but
if form doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get up to
scratch in the warm-ups,
the World Cup, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be
interesting to see if the
England management team
has the balls to make that
decision.â&#x20AC;?

Scholes wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got
a brilliant scoring record for
his country with 38 goals
in 89 internationals, but
heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s played in eight World
Cup games without a goal.
You expect more of him. If
Wayne is going to be one
of the best footballers in the
world, this World Cup is
where he has to produce.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maybe Wayne has felt
the pressure of playing for
England in the last two
World Cups when heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
not scored. I know how
&
%
Â&#x2019;~
&
his energy, desire, a will to
win which is unbelievable but, above all, his goals.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wayne wants all the
responsibility to score.
Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll try to play left back,
right back. Sometimes he
does that too much instead
of saving himself and his
energy for what his teams
need - the ball in the net.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;He needs to use his
$'
now as heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a player who
likes to be up front on his
own and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
great with partnerships.â&#x20AC;?
Hodgson has other
options at his disposal
ahead of this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
tournament and Scholes
does not think that Rooney
should be guaranteed a
spot.
He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying

1'7!
Â&#x20AC;
strong end to his second season
in English football.
Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remaining transfer
&
right-back to provide cover
for Pablo Zabaleta. Bacary
Sagnaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age and experience
have seen him earmarked as
the perfect candidate and the
fact he is available as a free
transfer makes him doubly
'!X|{"
Ă?Â&#x201E;Ă?
(
following FFP breaches.
Sagna, who has spent the
last seven years with Arsenal,
is keen to sort out his future
&"%)
in with Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transfer strategy
and a deal could be agreed by
the end of this month.
Meanwhile, Manchester
Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of football Txiki
"

*
& &" $
support to all the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s players
! 2
' '
stages of the tournament.
But the Begiristainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most
crucial role could be to
convince Yaya Toure that his
future remains at the Etihad

Stadium.
Toureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agent has told
Sky Sports News that the
!
$ !
&
!
"
%
The Ivory Coast
internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future at the
Etihad Stadium has been
thrown into doubt after
`Y&(
client felt underappreciated
and disrespected at City.
Seluk suggested that one
of main reasons for Toureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
unhappiness was the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
failure to mark his 31st
birthday last week.
But in an interview with Sky
Sports News, the Ukrainian
claimed Toure would be more
than happy to stay should
he be promised a coaching
position or sporting directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
role when he hangs up his
boots.
Seluk said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course.
Like Real Madrid did with
(Zinedine) Zidane for example.
Zidane played then after that
he started working for the club.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yaya needs the club in the
future.

Vela on Arsenal return

F

Wayne needs to be dropped
but if form doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get up
to scratch in the warm&"
of the World Cup, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be
interesting to see if the
England management team
has the balls to make that
decision.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have quality
forwards in the squad this
time. That should give
Wayne the competition he

"&
more.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;To get the very best
from Wayne in Rio, the
manager needs to tell him,
Ă&#x2DC;`
2
&

Scholes, who does not
expect to have a coaching
role at Manchester United
next season after returning
)$ " &
Â&#x2C6;
7Â&#x2C6;
will have to adapt his game
and could prosper as a
by.
Scholes added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
a chance heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worn out.
Wayneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peak may have
been a lot younger than
what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect of
footballers traditionally.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Age 28 or 29 has been
the normal â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;peakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. With
Wayne, it could have been
when he scored 27 league
goals in 2011/2012 when he
was 26.

ormer Arsenal forward
Carlos Vela believes
he has learnt from his
mistakes, after being linked
with a possible return to
Emirates Stadium.
The 25-year-old Mexican
joined La Liga side Real
Sociedad in 2012 for a
reported fee of ÂŁ4million,
following a successful loan
spell at the Basque side.
Since his permanent
switch to Spain, Vela
has racked up 30 goals
in all competitions and
"
7&

- who may look to activate
their buy-back clause on the
forward.
Following a disappointing
"{
!
joined as a teenager in 2008,
Vela admits he would not
repeat his errors if he did
move back to north London.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I have to return, I will
$
!Â&#x2026;
he said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;What happened in the
past will not be repeated.â&#x20AC;?

The Mexican, who wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
feature in this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
World Cup due to an
ongoing dispute with his
countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football association,
is hoping to negotiate a deal
that will suit all parties.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will try and reach an
agreement in which we all
win - Real, Arsenal and me.
We must see what can be
done,â&#x20AC;? he said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will decide what will
be my future, it is all about
!
happy.â&#x20AC;?

29

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Sports/EURO League
Barca boss tightlipped over Fabregas
Barcelona head coach, Luis Enrique,
has refused to be drawn on the future
of Cesc Fabregas, with the midfielder
having been linked with a move to
Manchester United.

NA Impact Wrestling
has lost a number
of its homegrown
talents, including AJ Styles,
Christopher Daniels and
Chris Saban. The latest to
leave is Frankie Kazarian,
who has been with TNA
almost since the beginning.
Kazarian did an interview
on Wednesday and talked
about leaving the company
and the possible future of
TNA Impact Wrestling.
While Styles and Saban
left the company because
TNA Impact Wrestling
$ !

contracts, the deal with
Kazarian and Daniels was
$
%

*&
said that TNA just stopped
using them and had
nothing lined up for them
in the future. Kazarian sees
this as a lost opportunity.
When TNA Impact
Wrestling signed The
American Wolves tag team
of Davey Richards and
Eddie Edwards, Kazarian
said that the idea excited
him. He said they had just
been drifting along with no
direction up to that time.

He said that the thought of
the American Wolves and

*&
&
!
an exciting prospect, but
the matchmakers in TNA
didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see it the same way.
Kazarian also said that
he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really feel like he
was leaving TNA Impact
Wrestling. The reason
for that comment is that
he feels the company
is no longer the TNA
that he wrestled in for
the last decade. He said
that when the company
chose not to bring back
{1Y !
1$

Why WWE stocks
are down
W
orld
ld Wrestling
W li
Entertainment
(WWE), was falling
1.6% to $11.09 Monday
following statements
that launching the WWE
Network hurt TV rights
negotiations.
In a conference call with
analysts WWE said its new
deal with NBCUniversal
(CMCSA_) is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;good deal,â&#x20AC;?
but is not what the company
wanted. Chairman and CEO
Vince McMahon said he was
â&#x20AC;&#x153;disappointedâ&#x20AC;? with the
deal according to The Fly on
the Wall.
During the call WWE
&
the WWE Network when
it did hurt those TV
negotiations. The company
noted, however, that a delay
would have forced it to wait
another full year before the
network could launch. The
company currently expects
to have between 2.5 million
and 3.5 million subscribers
to the WWE Network in
2015.
WWE said it estimates
TV deals in the U.S., U.K.,
Thailand, and India to reach
about $200 million annually,
a $90 million increase from
previous contracts.
WWEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revenue growth
trails the industry average
of 14.9%. Since the same
quarter one year prior,

1'
!
that the company was
changing into something
$
%6
touched on the fact that he
was told that TNA Impact
Wrestling was not for sale,
but believes that it was up
in the air at one time.
Kazarian will next
show up in Ring of
Honor Wrestling with
Christopher Daniels as

*&
%)!
a promo after the Ring
of Honor â&#x20AC;&#x153;War of the
Worldsâ&#x20AC;? Internet pay-perview last weekend with
Daniels saying he was
coming, and hinting he
wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t coming alone. Then
someone stepped in front
of the camera wearing
a shirt that looked like
Kazarianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, but blurred
out. Kazarianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contract
with TNA ends on June
Â&#x2021; 5"
announcement to come
after that.

WWE Superstar,
John Cena, will be at
the Chicago Comic
Con in August.
According to a press
release, Cena, Batista,
WWE Hall of Famer
Bruno Sammartino,
and Paige will be
at the convention
between Aug. 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 23
in Rosemont, Ill.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coming back to
Chicago is a great
thrill for me,â&#x20AC;? Cena
said in the release.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fans here have
always been good to
me, and I really enjoy
all my Wizard World
appearances.â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is so great to meet
not only the WWE
Universe, but also fans
of Marvelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guardians

of the Galaxy,â&#x20AC;? Batista
(Dave Bautista) adds.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited
to be joining my
co-stars Karen Gillan
and Michael Rooker
at Wizard World for
our Guardians of the
Galaxy panel just
weeks after the US
debut.â&#x20AC;?
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no word
if CM Punk, who
essentially left the
promotion, will be at
the event.
Cena will be facing
Bray Wyatt at â&#x20AC;&#x153;WWE
Paybackâ&#x20AC;? on Sunday,
June 1.
Cena and The Usos
defeated the Wyatt
family in a six-man
tag-team match on
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rawâ&#x20AC;?

N/Korea to hold international
pro-wrestling contest

N
revenues slightly increased
by 4.1%. This growth in
revenue does not appear
to have trickled down to
"
2
displayed by a decline in
earnings per share.
WWEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debt-to-equity
ratio is very low at 0.12 and
is currently below that of the
industry average, implying
that there has been very
successful management of
debt levels. To add to this,
WWE has a quick ratio of
1.51, which demonstrates
the ability of the company
to cover short-term liquidity
needs.

) "
for WORLD WRESTLING
ENTMT INC is currently
lower than what is desirable,
coming in at 28.50%. It has
decreased from the same
quarter the previous year.
Along with this, the net
"
#Â&#x2030;%Â&#x2030;Ă˘
!
the industry average.
"
* !
to -$9.40 million or 59.40%
when compared to the same
quarter last year. In addition,
when comparing to the
&'2
growth rate is much lower.

orth Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state
news agency has
said it will host an
international pro wrestling
event in Pyongyang in late
August.
The contest will be jointly
organised by Kanji Inoki,
(
!
{
Inoki, currently a member of
the upper house of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
government and, famously, a
former professional wrestler
himself. Inoki, 71, will be
partnering with North
Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Martial
{7
Chairman Jang Ung to
organise the event, the
Korean Central News Agency
(KCNA) said on Monday.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;World famous pro
wrestlers from Japan, the
US and other countries will
take part in the contest to
be held under the theme of
independence, peace and
friendship,â&#x20AC;? the Northâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state
news agency said.
Inoki visited the North in
January and met with Kim
Yong-il, secretary of the ruling

Workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Party of
Korea in charge
of international
$
exchanged
views on
a possible
future
sports
exchange
event in
Pyongyang.
This is not
Inoki has organised
a wrestling event in
Pyongyang. He put together
a similar event in April 1995,
"
&
Ă&#x201C;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;
'
two days.
Inoki has maintained
connections with North
Korea because his former pro
wrestling master Rikidozanâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;
a national hero in Japan in the
wake of its defeat in World
War II â&#x20AC;&#x201C; originally came from
South Hamgyong province,
North Korea. Kim Yongsuk, Rikidozanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter
in Pyongyang later married

Pak Myong-chol, a
former Minister
of Physical
Culture and
Sports and
councillor
in the
National
Defense
Commission
(NDC), thus
deepening ties
with Inoki.
Rikidozan found
and scouted Inoki, then 17,
in 1960 in Brazil during his
professional wrestling tour to
SĂŁo Paulo. Inokiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family had
immigrated to Brazil when
he was 13.
This announcement comes
as Japan and North Korea
have been aiming to improve
their strained bilateral
relations. Japanese Foreign
Minister Fumio Kishida on
Monday told reporters in
Tokyo that the governmentlevel talks will take place
on 26 May for two days in
Stockholm, Sweden.

Killing of suspects before
police arrival at crime
scenes is assuming
alarming proportion.
There is a long list of
unverified suspects that
have been erroneously
lynched. TUNDE BUSARI
reports.

O

n May 5, 2014, combination
of his choice career and,
most importantly, mother
luck, raced to the aid of Adekunle
Adedeji, 31 in Ile-Ife, Osun State
when a mob almost snuffed life
out of him.
The freelance broadcaster was
accused of an attempt to kidnap a
seven-year-old Godwin Ndubisi
while he was helping the kid to
cross to the other side of the road
along Onpetu Street.

Quick intervention of some
elders, who led him to the
palace of the Ooni of Ife, saved
the situation. Policemen
from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Division Moore were
subsequently contacted. A search
in his room bailed him out
and further investigation also
confirmed that Adedeji on the
fateful day went to the Nigeria
Television Authority (NTA) IleIfe to submit a demo disk for
his proposed programme on the
medium.
Same goes for Ifaremi Femi, an
Ifa adherent in Gbongan, also
in Osun State. In the manner of
Adedeji, Femi also escaped being

lynched by a mob for the same
accusation.
The 32-year-old, who goes about
the township offering prayers
from street to street, suddenly
found himself surrounded by
a group of boys shouting and
accusing him of hunting for kids
to abduct. Femi was, however,
saved by quick arrival of a team
of policemen from Gbongan
Divisional Headquarters.

Similarly, at AbuleEgba, a Lagos suburb,
a woman was accused
of attempting to
kidnap three primary
school pupils, and
another alleged to
have kidnapped two
children on May 7
at Iyana-Ipaja.The
F
Q
and reduced to ashes
minutes afterwards

But, it was a different story for
few other suspected kidnappers
who have since met their death in
the hands of angry mob and died
in a most bestial manner reserved
only for the candidates of hellfire.
Penultimate Wednesday, at
Ijoko in Ogun State, three young
men, who posed as commercial
transporters, were burnt alive
when the girl, Oluwole Elizabeth
in their bus raised alarm on
realizing their motive.
The cry of the 28-year-old
attracted the attention of the
passers-by, who forced the bus to
a halt and passed an instant death
sentence on them. When a team
from Sango Ota Divisional Police
Headquarters arrived the scene,
it was the charred remains of the
suspects they met. The mob had
dispersed.
However, Elizabeth was found
and taken to the Ogun State
Police Command Headquarters,
Eleweeran, Abeokuta, the Ogun
State capital.
Similarly, at Abule-Egba, a
Lagos suburb, a woman was
accused of attempting to kidnap
three primary school pupils,
and another alleged to have
kidnapped two children on May
7 at Iyana-Ipaja.The duo ended
in flames and reduced to ashes
minutes afterwards.
It took the Osemawe of Ondo,
Continued on Page 66

66

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Special Report

Barbaric outrage of desperate public
Continued from Page 65

Oba Dr Victor Kiladejo an
emergency meeting with the
elders of the town to stop the
youth of the town from killing
and setting ablaze people with
mental disability.
In the last three weeks, no fewer
than 12 were beaten to death with
all sorts of objects at different
parts of the town. According to a
source, the monarch argued that
the act of the mob is a travesty of
justice because no parents in the
town had raised alarm of loss of
kids.
This has made the recent
upsurge in jungle justice,
allegedly perpetrated by the
seemingly overzealous public, a
frightening trend, following the
alleged increase in kidnapping for
ritual purposes.
Saturday Newswatch gathered
that one notable reason provoking
the gruesome killing of the
suspected kidnappers is the
public alleged distrust of the
law enforcement agencies with
a particular reference to Nigeria
Police.
The Nigeria Police, which is
statutorily responsible for quelling
breaking down of law and order,
is enmeshed with the allegation of
compromising their obligation to
the citizens.
Chief Gabriel Giwa-Amu of
the AG Giwa-Amu & Co. Legal
Practitioners, Ikeja, Lagos, who
had in the past been a victim
of the allegation, came hard on
Nigeria Police with a judgment
calling the government to act fast
in overhauling the force to save
the nation of impending anarchy
symbolized by jungle justice.
“The act is an expression of
the populace frustration on the
unsatisfactory performance of its
law enforcement agencies. It is not
that they don’t know that they are
supposed to report the matter to
the police.
“An average Nigerian is
educated to that level, especially
in the Southern part of the
country, but their concern over the
treatment of the matter given their
previous experience, easily tempts
them to want to take law into their
hands as we have witnessed in
some parts of the country lately.
“In other words, if the law
enforcement agencies are known
for rising to their responsibility
with all sense of honesty, there
would not be public frustration in
the first place, let alone a recourse
to jungle justice,” he stated.
Sharing the blame with the
police, according to Amu, is
Nigeria judicial system. He said,”
Many Magistrates don’t even
understand the rule of the court
and the law they are supposed
to implement or enforce thereby
giving room for the populace to

Giwa Amu

prefer the rudeless or lawless
procedure to achieve justice.
Again, what do you expect in a
court system that enjoys arbitrary
adjournment?”
Another legal practitioner,
Barrister AbdulGaniy Bello of
Oloruntele Chambers in Ilorin,
the Kwara State capital lamented
the rate of corruption in the
police and attributed it to the
public disrespect for the agency,
resulting in self-help to justice.
While recalling his experience,
Bello said, “It is so bad that a
complainant is turned to suspect
after money has changed hand.
We have seen an instance where
an accuse is caught for unlawful
possession of human head and it
has taken the police 18 years to
give forensic report to ascertain
whether the head is that of a
man or that of a chimpanzee. The
police don’t do investigation.
What they are good at is to
forcefully extract statement
from the innocent with a view
to shielding the criminal at the
expense of the innocent.
But government too is not
helping the matter. Government
failure to fund the police
adequately affects the morale of
the police. They are not ready
to put in their best, especially
when they know that if anything
happens to them, they are on their
own.”
But, the police claim that
Nigerian public is a clog in their
wheel with their alleged (public)
penchant to escape justice at
all cost. Bello surprisingly rose
in defence of the police claim,
describing Nigerians as enemy of
truth, who always seek a way of
compromising the institution.
“They believe too much on
who you know rather than the
substance of the matter. They
look for the DPO (Divisional
Police Officer) and the judge as
the case may be, all to lobby and
compromise them and win unjust

Ogundare

favour,” he said.
The tragedy of the act, it was
learnt, is that many unfortunate
ones have been trapped in the
hand of the mob and never lived
to give the narrative of their tale.
Police Public Relations Officer of
Osun State Command, Folashade
Odoro, a Deputy Superintendent
of Police, lamented this and also
expressed her regret over the
trend.
“Can you just imagine that when
our men got to the scene of the
incident at Gbongan, they did not
see any victim the mob claimed
the man wanted to kidnap. And
nobody complained that his or
her child was kidnapped.
“As I am speaking there is no
evidence to link the suspect to
kidnapping case. It is therefore,
imperative to inform the public so

It is the statutory
duty of the agency to
investigate the allegation
with professionalism
and all sincerity. This
is because of the fact
that the man who kills
armed robber is guilty of
murder. When an armed
robber is beaten, the
law calls it an assault.
In other words, law
protects criminal that
is brought to court of
competent jurisdiction.
In a nutshell, jungle
justice is crime under any
law

Bello

that innocent citizens would not
be killed by people who take law
into their hands without verifying
facts,” she said.
His difference with the police
notwithstanding, Amu frowns at
the act, arguing that no matter
how aggrieved the public are, the
position of the law is that a report
should be made to the police.
“It is the statutory duty of
the agency to investigate the
allegation with professionalism
and all sincerity. This is because
of the fact that the man who kills
armed robber is guilty of murder.
When an armed robber is beaten,
the law calls it an assault. In other
words, law protects criminal that
is brought to court of competent
jurisdiction. In a nutshell, jungle
justice is crime under any law.
Police Public Relations Officer
of the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad (FEDSARS),
Lekan Ogundare, a Deputy
Superintendent of Police,
expectedly warned the public
against jungle justice.
“It is against the rule of law
and natural justice. It is archaic,
barbaric and universally
unacceptable. It also does not
conform with the modern police
theories and law enforcement,”
Ogundare stressed.
Interestingly, Lagos State
Government has come up with a
strong warning that perpetrators
of acts of “jungle justice” in the
state would not be treated with
kid glove.
The State Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, Ade
Ipaye in a statement in Alausa,
Ikeja, said though kidnapping
and other criminal acts are
condemnable, “it is equally
unacceptable for citizens to take
laws into their own hands by
summarily punishing or killing
those suspected of any criminal
act. The mob may well be wrong
and the helpless victim(s) may be
anyone’s child or relative.”

67

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Special Report

Agonising cries of
Jos bomb victims
Gyang Bere, Jos

T

he physically as well as
psychologically wounds are
still very fresh. The bandage
wrapping the victims like
mummies can be seen from afar;
an indication that the patients
were in severe pains. Most of the
survivors are yet to wake from
the trauma they went through
as a result of the Tuesday bomb
blast that rocked Jos, the capital of
Plateau State.
Saturday Newswatch gathered
that most of the victims are still
currently unconscious in various
competent hospitals within the Jos
metropolis and environs.
However, Franklin Plangnan is
grateful for being alive though
she is still unconscious and in
severe pains at the Jos University
Teaching Hospital.
Believed to be a chemist,
Plangnan, was working at a
shop opposite the scene of the
bomb blast adjacent the Old Jos
University Teaching Hospital,
suffered burns on her body.
When Saturday Newswatch
visited her on the sick bed,
Plangnan could hardly speak; she
marely thanked God in-between
mutters, saying: “God, you are
great, you saved my life… I am in
pains… my legs… somebody hold
my legs please.”
She continued: “The pain is too
much, God come and take the
pains away from me; I can’t bear
it, thank you Jesus, thank you
Jesus,” she cried out.
Plangnan was wrapped all over
in bandage, her eyes closed, as she
kept gnashing her teeth in pains
thereby arresting the attention of
the Minister of Water Resource,
Mrs Sarah Ochekpe and Minister
of Women Affairs and Social
Development, Hajiya Zainab
Maina, who were in JUTH to
commiserate with the victims.
Saturday Newswatch findings at
the time revealed that none of her
relations was aware that Plangnan

A victim in hospital bed

Ministers Zainab Maina and Serah Ochekpe
comforting another victim

was at the hospital. There was
the possibility that they were still
searching for her or had believed
that she was either dead or not at
the scene of the blast.
Another survivor who narrowly
escaped, but with severe burns,
Mrs. Yakubu, who is currently
receiving treatment at the Jos
University Teaching Hospital,
expressed thanks to God for
protecting her life.
Mrs. Yakubu who spoke
amidst tears, recounted the gory
expressed: “I cannot tell you how
it all happen, I was passing along
the Terminus Market, when I
heard a loud sound, then I didn’t

Another victim

know what happened. I just heard
people crying, and I tried to open
my eyes but could only see figures
of people on the ground.
“Later I noticed I was being

Danjuma Adamu,
whose father died
while receiving
treatment at
JUTH, was very
sober, thanking
God that they
found and were
able to speak to
him before he died
when some others
were not that
lucky

carried by some people who came
to rescue us. I didn’t know where
I was taken to until the following
day when I woke, and I saw
myself on the hospital bed. None
of my family members knows that
I am in the hospital. I believe they
thought I am dead because my
son knows that I was around the
terminus,” she cried.
Hadiza Ajiji is another pathetic
victim of the blast who narrowly
escaped, but also sustained
serious injuries. She narrated:
“Three of us were inside a Keke
Napep tricycle close to the
motor park in front of the old
JUTH when suddenly a J5 bus us
carrying bags of maize overtook
us. It was not up to 5 minutes
later when a loud sound like
thunder erupted. I don’t even
know if those in the tricycle with
me survived,” Ajiji said amid
tears.
The survivor gathered courage
and continued, “You can see I was
seriously affected by the fire, but I
thank God that I’m alive.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Musa who
also sustained serious injuries
said, “I went to the market to
purchase some items, and I
was close to where the bomb
exploded. That’s all I know
because when I recovered, I found
in the hospital.”
Suleiman Ismail who stays in
Dogon Karfe also narrated his
experience: “My mother sent me
to the park to deliver a message
to the village, so I was getting
closer to the park, I heard a bang,
and that was all I remembered
until I woke to find myself in the
hospital.”
Another victim, Danjuma
Samuel, who could not talk as at
the time of our visitation, was just
nodding his head, in apparent
show that all was well.
Since the incident occurred on
Tuesday, families and residents
of Jos, are still searching for their
beloved ones. Danjuma Adamu,
whose father died while receiving
treatment at JUTH, was very
sober, thanking God that they
found and were able to speak to
him before he died when some
others were not that lucky.
Also, it is worthy of mention,
though sad that seven final
year medical students of the Jos
University Teaching Hospital,
Jos, were among the dead, four of
which are members of Redeemed
Christian Church of God.
Saturday Newswatch gathered
that the students, who usually
read together, had just concluded
their lecture, and had gone to buy
something from the market before
they met their untimely death.

ome lions may be
bullies, but not all
of them. Once, a
lion was out hunting
(
&$ %
Suddenly, a bandit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a
rather stupid fellow
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; jumped out from
behind a bush. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m
not afraid of you,â&#x20AC;? he
shouted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hand over
&$ %Â&#x2026; Â&#x2019;
youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not afraid, you
should be,â&#x20AC;? said the

lion, and growled so
(
to his heels. Shortly
afterwards, a traveller
came along, and seeing
the lion, stepped back
quietly.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
be
afraid,â&#x20AC;? said the lion.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not
a greedy pig like the
bandit Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just chased
away, you can leave
&$
traveller.

The first tooth

Kings must be clever

E

Quotes

very year, the
animals meet to
choose a new
King. One year, the
cheekiest of all the
monkeys
danced
around the animals,
turning
cartwheels
and swinging from the
branches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Very good,â&#x20AC;?
cried the animals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Very
clever, you deserve
to be king for a year.â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Huh!â&#x20AC;? said Freddie
the Fox. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That monkey
is just a fool. Watch
this.â&#x20AC;? Nearby, there
was a trap with some

meat in it. Freddie said
to the monkey: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As you
are our new king, I
want to give you a gift.
Here is a nice piece of
meat I was keeping just
for myself.â&#x20AC;?
With a squeak of
delight the monkey
leapt on it, and the trap
snapped shut. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My
(Â&#x2026;
said Freddie as he
opened the trap and let
him out, â&#x20AC;&#x153;if you want
to be a king of all the
animals, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to
learn to be clever.â&#x20AC;?

Through the house what busy joy,
Just because the infant boy
Has a tiny tooth to show!
I have got a double row,
All as white, and all as small;
Yet no one cares for mine at all.
He can say but half a word,
Yet that single soundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preferred
To all the words that I can say
In the longest summer day.
He cannot walk, yet if he put
With mimic motion out his foot,
As if he thought he were advancing,
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prized more than my best dancing.
~Charles and Mary Lamb

Mind blog
Loch Ness Monster

Jo kes

Word Search

Tongue twister
The Loch Ness Monster is a legendary animal
that supposedly resides in the depths of Loch
Ness, a long narrow lake situated in rural
Scotland. Stories concerning the monster
date back to the 6th century A.D. The region
was in complete isolation until a road was
built alongside the lake in 1933. Then large
numbers of people travelled through the
Â
Â&#x201A;

thousands have reported seeing something
in the lake. Most reports depict a long neck
surging from the water with a small head
of an unknown creature. Pictures have even
been taken of this â&#x20AC;&#x153;creatureâ&#x20AC;?, but most
scientists however, refuse to believe any
creature of this kind lives in the Loch Ness.
They claim that most reported cases are
simply products of overactive imaginations,

and as for the pictures, scientists say they
are not lucid enough to distinguish items
clearly, and some pictures are dubbed as
â&#x20AC;&#x153;fakeâ&#x20AC;?. A large number of non- scientists
believe however, that the Loch Ness is the
site of a breeding colony of large unknown
aquatic animals, due to the fact that Loch
Â&#x2021;

Â&#x201A;

Â&#x2C6;
summer investigations have been conducted
Â&#x2021;
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|
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Â&#x201A;
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indicate that there just might be some
unknown animal in the depths of the Loch
Ness. Evidence however, is inconclusive,
and the controversy continues.

raders whose stalls were last
!(&
`(
&$(
8
have started rebuilding those stores.
Thus, they have put behind them the
& &$
without necessarily waiting on the
government to rebuild the market for
them.
Saturday Newswatch investigations
showed that the reconstruction started
four days after a section of the market
was completely razed.
({Â&#x20AC;Y%
{(
&Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x192; "!
$
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8 Y
government and Oshodi/Isolo Local
7 '
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extent of destruction and the number of
" "$%
Her words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is true that the marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
!
$
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construction of the burnt shops. We did
not wait for the government because it
will take a long time for government
" Â&#x20AC;%)$ "
owners and the leadership of the market
#
&
begins in time for the owners to move on
with their businesses.â&#x20AC;?
The market leaders said the cause
&
(
(
!
#
&
was to ensure that the owners of the
burnt shops go back to their businesses,
while awaiting governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promise of
compensation.
{
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to have lost two shops to the inferno
$ "
alone the lines which sell imported rice,
palm oil, groundnut oil, beans, charcoal,
tailoring materials and a host of other
items.
The trader said he lost more than 270
bags of rice and beans in the two shops
%
He disclosed that two containers had
discharged 500 bags of Gold Rice for
him and two of his colleagues three days
was lucky to have sold about 58 bags
%
He lamented that it would take him
many years to recover from the loss he
incurred, adding that he did not have any
form of insurance to cover the loss.
â&#x20AC;? I did not insure my shops. You know
the hassle people go through when it
comes to collecting claims. The insurance
companies will be telling their policy
owners stories, hence I did not insure
my shops. Many insurance agents had
come to the market to sell their various
policies.â&#x20AC;?
He claimed to have lost over N9 million
to the inferno, adding that he contributed
&
" &
#
&
market, adding that he looks forward to
the completion of the project to get back
to business.
{
'! '
as Mama Bukky, said she was selling
charcoal in bags, adding that customers
come from far and wide in Lagos to buy
her wares.
Shesaid she lost over 30 bags of
"
was totally razed, as charcoal burns fast
%
She, however, thanked God that despite
the huge material loss, no life was lost in
the inferno.
Y

Gov. Fashola
who promptly responded to the distress
calls of the security guards in the market.
Â&#x2019;8 Y
( "& &%Y'
prompt response, the whole market
would have been consumed. They came

on time and were able to curtail the
inferno from spreading to other sections
of the market.
Workers at the site said the contractor
" "#
&
work within one month.
)&
'
been adequately mobilised for the job,
adding that the contractor in charge of
the project has charged the labourers to
work hard to complete the project on
schedule.
{ &
of how much was lost to the inferno,
&
&
have lost over N500 million.

!
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Plank Market, Ketu, a section of Idumota
market and some other markets in
8 Y!$
&
" "
""
government to adopt measure that will
" ( &$
similar fate.
Meanwhile Governor Babatunde
3Y{4
leadership of markets in the state to
take steps to insure their business
premises, to avoid going cap in hand to
government for compensation following
&
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Similarly, informed respondents
advised the traders to take out insurance
policies against destruction to their
wares.

Ways to prevent
building collapse
Continued from Page 24

of building collapse in the country,
players in building and construction
sectors have recommended that to
stop building collapse in the country,
government should embrace the Nigeria
Society of Engineersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recommendation,
which says that any found culpable in
building collapse should be arrested
and prosecuted. They say many of
the landlords and developers whose
buildings collapsed in the past were
never prosecuted or sent to jail to serve as
deterrent.
They called on professional associations
connected to building and construction,
such as engineers, architects, builders,
and other associations to live up to
their responsibilities. Stakeholders say
professional associations in the building
and construction sectors have a share
of the blame, as they have not live up to
expectations. They say corruption and
incompetence have been the lots of many
local professional associations.
Experts appealed to the state
'
' !
are responsible for building supervision
"" ' "#&" "# &
as most of the building collapse in the
past would have been prevented if the
'
2 '"
functions professionally.
They say government have to prosecute
!
&
collapsed and the professional association
of anyone that played a role in a building
that collapsed. They also appealed to the
government to take over plots of land of
"
&
#"'
owner of the land.
The stakeholders opined that
government should identify owners of
"
!" Â&#x20AC;
#
going, in case there is any issue regarding
the project. This they say will enable
government to identify the owners of such
projects.

Space constraint at ports delays
cargo clearance - Agents

S

"& &`( +(%%%!(

Poultry farmers task govt
Johnmark Ukoko

T

he Federal Government has been
urged to halt the activities of Boko
Haram and other militial groups
operating in the northern region, as
their activities are impacting negatively
on the business fortunes of the region.
National president of the Poultry
{
3\{4
+%{ &
!
appeal, while exchanging views with
journalists in Lagos recently.
Oduntan said many of his members
have either been killed or displaced
from their farms due to the activities of
the insurgency in the northern region.
He lamented that the insurgents have
equally killed many of their chickens,
looted their fowls and carted away
eggs, displaced workers and destroyed
poultry business in the North.
)\{
!
"
of chickens and eggs would soon go

up, adding that very soon the country
would equally witness shortage of
chicken and eggs
The farmers stressed that the
insurgency in the North have impacted
negatively on the fortune of Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the
North, adding that the sector which is
grappling with many issues, is further
confronted by the activities of Boko
Haram insurgency.
His words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are appealing to
the Federal Government to halt the
menace of Boko Haram and other groups
disturbing the peace of the North,.
Boko Haram have killed many people
including poultry farmers. Many of
our members have ran away from their
place of business. Some of these farms
!#&"!
!&
hard earned life savings.â&#x20AC;? .
It will be recalled that eggs and
chicken are some of the best sources of
protein for many Nigerians.

ome clearing agents in Lagos on
Thursday said that the delay in
computing the 35 per cent duty on
vehicles by Nigerian Customs Service (NCS)
was delaying cargo clearance.
They told newsmen in Lagos that the ships,
carrying their vehicles and other goods had
&
" $# %
Mr Emmanuel Onyia, a clearing agent, said
that his cargoes arrived on May 12, but were
yet to be discharged from the ships because of
lack of space.
Â&#x2019;)
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to discharge cargoes.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The goods that have been discharged
have not been cleared by their agents who are
!"
&"
%
â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is time for the 35 per cent duty issued
to be properly resolved. Manpower and
revenue is being lost as a result of the policy,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
Onyia said.
Mr Olu Ogungbemi, another agent, said
that his importer had threatened not to do
business with him again because of the delay
in clearing the goods on time.
Ogungbe said that the new auto policy
&'(
$
1&Â&#x2021;
scheduled to allow some importers to clear
their imported vehicles.
Chief Stephen Uzonuoma, an automobile
trader, appealed to the government to
allow importers to carry out last minute
importation on used vehicles.
Usonuoma said that the government
should review the 35 per cent duty being
collected by the customs so that people
would not run out of the business.
He said that vehicles importation has
gradually dropped as a result of the policy
which came into existence in 2013.

Lebanonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy
follows a laissez-faire
model. Most of the
economy is dollarized,
and the country has
no restrictions on the
movement of capital
across its borders. The
Lebanese governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
intervention in foreign
trade is minimal

Continued on Page 76

76

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

International Business
Continued from Page 75

have witnessed tremendous progress,
especially where there are convergence
of interest in terms of eradication of
colonialism, apartheid, support for the
promotion of new world economic
"&
{
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reformation of the United Nations
Security Council.
)
8
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1885 when Ilyas Khoury, from Northern
8
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step of Khoury on the Nigerian soil, the
" "&
8
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in Nigeria had grown in leaps and
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8
&
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8
Kano where many of them had intermarried.
Records of the Nigerian immigration
service in 2008 put the population of
8
Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;
!
8
#
Nigerians who now hold the Nigerian
passport.
Market Challenges
Y
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is relatively simple and open to all,
&" &"
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(
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8
2
"
5
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Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201A;" "
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8
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steps and nine days, compared to the
average of 8.2 steps and 20.9 days in the
+|{
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"

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2007, the government presented a
master plan for reform that included the
"'6
!
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electricity sector, the water sector, the
national airline, and other governmentowned entities. Most of these plans
%
)Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201A;5" $
'
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Beirut

Lebanon: Where economy thrives on laissez-faire

for international companies. In the
electricity sector, the Ministry of Energy
5" &"
&
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Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;"
"
ĂĽÂ&#x2021;%Â&#x201A;
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will create commercial opportunities
worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Ministry of Energy and Water is
5"
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for water and waste water projects in the
coming few years.
Y
'
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5
8
2 $
5"
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conveys trust, sincerity and honesty.
However, interestingly the situation
is reversed when dealing with elders
where prolonged direct eye contact is
considered rude and challenging.
8
'
#
confrontational communication style,
which relates to the need to maintain

personal honour. They rely heavily on
5 5"
&
meaning of their words. The listener is
5" (
!!
"%
#'
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you can more fully understand the
responses you are given.
"8
""&
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!(
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& &
5"
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&
"&
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challenged, they will raise their voice
and employ sweeping hand gestures in
' &"
honour.
Business Meetings
ĂŤ)
&
&&
8
is multi-faceted, and also rapidly
changing. The country is eager for
foreign investment and many companies
have adopted a Western approach to
&
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companies may retain many Middle
|
"
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&&%
\&
&
5"

The business culture
in Lebanon is multifaceted, and also
rapidly changing. The
country is eager for
foreign investment and
many companies have
adopted a Western
approach to business.
At the same time,
smaller companies
may retain many
Middle Eastern aspects
to their business
culture

&
%
+
!
$ $%
sipped, it is important to engage in some
chitchat. This is important in order to
""
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Meetings are not necessarily private.
)8
'
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policy, which means that people may
!(
&"
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(
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"" Â&#x2020;&
&"
%
Meetings are generally conducted in
{
|
%
(!
&
!
&
"
arriving. You may wish to hire your own
interpreter.
ĂŤ7"
"
&&
and special occasions.
ĂŤ7
'
!
has provided a favour, to someone
returning from a trip overseas, or simply
out of want.
ĂŤ)
as important as what it represents â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
friendship.
ĂŤ
&
' 8
&
* !%
' &
!
or pastries.
ĂŤ
'
+&
good idea to say that the gift is for the
host rather than the hostess.
ĂŤ7 !
circles. Muslims though generally do not
( %
ĂŤ{&!
children is always a nice touch.
ĂŤ7
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a gift with the left hand.
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|

Beyond the Bar
I would have
been a tailor
â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Barrister Popoola
Ayodele Olalere

W

ith 21years experience at
the Bar, Barrister Segun
Popoola cannot be described
as a greenhorn in the legal practice in
Nigeria. Suave with much experience
as a legal practitioner, Popoola is the
type who allows his job to speak for
him.
A media shy person, the Osun State
born legal practitioner is one that does

&"&
%{
it took several phone calls to him by
Saturday Newswatch before he agreed
to the interview.
+
one would have taken him as a lawyer
because of his gentleness. Call him a
man of the people, you are not wrong.
Unlike many lawyers who carries
themselves high and moves about
with an aura of pride like a demigod,
Barrister Popoolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s humility has
endeared him to many people who
daily throng his plush chamber at
Apapa, Lagos for professional service
%
Many of such ones are those who
' &
&(
abilities to secure the services of a
! &%)&
they see in him a man who is ready
to assist the less privileged and
downtrodden in spite of his status as a
rich and successful lawyer.
However, for Barrister Popoola, his
career spanning over two decades
is laid with many stories of life
threatening situations in the course of
doing his job.
Born in Osun State but grew up in
Ibadan, the father of three was born
without the proverbial silver spoon.
His father was a fashion designer
otherwise known as tailor. He was
also a cloth merchant. Having lost
his mother when he was a teenager
two children, his father had wanted
him to take after him in the profession
(tailoring).
) !
&
Segun was still in the secondary
school, his father was already teaching
him how to sow cloths and planning
of buying him a sewing machine and
rent a shop for him so as to join him
Â&#x20AC;
%) 3Y&
4! &
carry on his legacy.â&#x20AC;?
Â&#x2019;{
!

younger, it was the practise then that
parents always wanted their children
to do the same job they are doing. My
father had the same feelings. He gave
birth to two boys; I and my brother
and because I am the eldest child, he
felt I should be a cloth merchant and
a tailor like himself. I lost my mother
when I was 11years old so my father
didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want anyone of his children to
stay away from him,â&#x20AC;? he told Saturday
Newswatch.
While his father was planning for
him to succeed him in the job, Segun
had another plan for himself; he
wanted to become a lawyer.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;While I was still in secondary
school, my father insisted i must come
to his shop whenever we left school.
Whenever I got there, he would give
me cloth materials to cut, tape rule
and asked him to practice with it.
One day, he told me that I was going
to inherit his shop and business and
urged me to mastered it so that if he
died suddenly, I could continue the
business. He bought me a sewing
secondary school, I had already
master it,â&#x20AC;? he said.
He added â&#x20AC;&#x153;But deep down I knew
I was not cut out for such, I wanted to
further my education and study law.
So one day, I called him and told him
that he should allow me to further my
education and that my interest was
in law. He shouted at me, saying that
it would cost him a fortune to send
me to school to study law. I begged
him and promised him that I would
assist him by doing menial jobs to get
money to pay for my education. I
by learning tailoring from him and
that he also should make me happy
by supporting me. He eventually
agreed and at the end sponsored my
education.â&#x20AC;?
Called to the Bar in 1993, Barrister
Popoolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience in the profession
has been full of ups and downs. He
began his practice in Ibadan before
relocating to Lagos. Like every young
!""
judge was not a palatable one.
{(
&5"
day he appeared before a judge, he
beamed with smile, took his breath
and said â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was not something I
would want to remember (laughed).
I was to defend a client in a land
%)
!
employ the services of a senior lawyer
but fresh from law school and full

Popoola

One day, he told me
that I was going to
inherit his shop and
business and urged me
to master it so that if he
died suddenly, I could
continue the business.
He bought me a sewing
machine and by the time
\
school, I had already
mastered it

of anticipation, I convinced him that
he should give the brief to me and
charged him lesser than what the
senior lawyer charged him so that he
should give the job to me. He asked if
I could handle it and I said yes.â&#x20AC;?
He continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we got to the
court, I was overwhelmed with fear
when I saw the Senior Advocate that
the other side hired. I began to sweat
profusely and was going in and out of
the court several times. I almost peed
on my body. I washed my face many

!
called, I began to stammer. When the
judge asked what was wrong with
me, I told him I was having malaria
(laughed) and would like to take a
date.
)Â&#x20AC;&
!
and smiled. He pleaded with the
Senior Advocate to agree to the
Â&#x20AC; &
and the SAN agreed because he also
noticed what was happening. When
we got outside the court, the SAN, a
very nice man, talked to me and gave
&%)
(
the brief away from me but I pleaded
with him to allow me to handle it.
'
& &
court.â&#x20AC;?
Barrister Popoola specialises in land
%'
handled many land issues which has
put his life in danger. He narrated
some of them to Saturday Newswatch.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;As I said, I began practising in
Ibadan, and at that time, land issues
were a delicate one in Ibadan. A
plot of land could be sold to ten
" " !!&
dangerous to handle such cases. I
could remember one that i handled.
It involved one of the land owners
(omo onile) who sold a land to three
$
" "%
!"
one of the people that bought the
Continued on page 78

78

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Beyond the Bar

I would have been
a tailor â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Barrister
Popoola

8 (
(
\ " &
%
Continued from page 77
~
!!
%
! &
!
%{
day, some touts came with him and
him, he was happy that his dream of
! (
&%
!!%
court sat, two of them accosted me
Â&#x2019;`
&
(
!
!!
!
%
and showed me some charms under
'
!&
%)!
it was for me to convince my father to
if I misbehave, they would hit me
allow me study law and some menial
!%
!
jobs I did to fund my education,
&" "!
&%
!'
( 7

! &
Â&#x2026;%
'!%)
~Â&#x2019;
&
%
!
!%|'
&
&
& !!
proceedings that day, they were still
you are but how much impact you
%!& &
have had on the profession and the
of the court premises that day,â&#x20AC;? he
! %
'Â&#x20AC;&

%
!! (
~
and many other ones come to me
%Â&#x2019;{
'%)
'
incident happened one day as I was
&
%Â&#x2026;
&
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!
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&(!
in the night and as I was driving
!!
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towards my house, a car followed me
! '%!
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! the same university but i was a year
'%Â&#x2026;
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"
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right from there but we lost contact
Barrister Popoola reminisced on the
but some years later, we met again
numerous cases he has handled and
%Â&#x2026;
"(
&
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Barrister Popoola love to eat
Â&#x2019;)
"&
2
" &
'
&"%~
%
' '"
also loves to watch football and table
(% &

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to the other side also gave me a tough
When not in the court, Barrister
time because he was very good but
Popoola loves to spend time with his
'
&!!
%Â&#x2026;
&!
%

Group condemns alleged
assault by Customs officer

A

group, Project Alert on
Violence Against Women
has condemned the recently
reported alleged case of acid
(
+) ""
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!6%
In a Press release by the
President of the group, Josephine
|$#&(!& &"
expressed its sadness over the
%
Â&#x2019;"& (
in question did not only commit a
' & $
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boasting about it saying he â&#x20AC;&#x153;can do
&
Â&#x2026;
'%)
is a clear case of impunity which
&
%Â&#x2026;
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Â&#x2019;{
" "
a sales girl in a local food store
owned by Nwaezeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family, was
&
& Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Â&#x192; %

" 5
from the alleged theft, an argument
&
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Nwaeze and in the process acid
was allegedly poured on her by
!6%

Josephine

)!"
\ Y
+%
!6!
'%~!
there the next day and soon after
&
( &
!
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therefore calling on his bosses in
the Customs and the Commissioner
of Police, Lagos, to urgently wade
&
Â&#x20AC;&
%)
should be thoroughly investigated
&%Â&#x2026;

Okey Wali, NBA President

2014 NBA elections:
National body
releases guidelines
W

ith the election into the
national presidency of the
Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA) fast approaching, the election
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;
has issued guidelines for aspiring
' & %
)&
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{Ă?Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;
Â&#x2021;Â&#x201A;
&
{
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Â&#x2019;
&
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{Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;
Â&#x201A;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201A;Â&#x201A;
Â&#x201A;
&
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According to the guidelines, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;any
member of the association who
wishes to contest for any of the

{Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;3
4
Constitution shall be adjudged
Â&#x2020;&Â&#x160;&
of the association and has paid as at
the date of his or her nomination his
or her practicing fees on or before the
+Â&#x2021; "
&'
"Â&#x160;
her annual branch subscriptions and
'&" {"Â&#x2021;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;%2
)"
& Ă&#x2DC;
practitioner in full time private
legal practice and must have been a
member of the National Executive
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such ones must have been a member
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Secretary, Legal Adviser and Welfare
Secretary must also be not less than
!
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{
YÂ&#x201A;
{

Y{
Secretary, and Assistant Publicity
Secretary are also expected to have
spent not less than two years at their
' &
%
~ !'&
stated that any contestant could be
Â&#x2020;&Ă&#x2DC;'
that such person â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; is sponsored by or
'
or inducement from any government
of the federation, or members,
organizations or bodies corporate
or if the candidate underwrites a
voting conference delegateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travel,
board or lodging expenses; if he or
she sponsors or is associated with
sponsoring a newspaper or magazine
article or electronic broadcast
vilifying other candidates or extolling
2'&%2
)"
&
Â&#x2020;&Ă&#x2DC;
he or she had been elected to a single
two year term and is running for
&
%
)&
candidates from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pasting posters,
billboard, hand bills or any form of
"
! '%2
Souvenirs or gift of any sort is not
allowed while distribution of gift
items and souvenirs traceable to
!
Â&#x2020;&
%
)

$
'5
messages while no â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;candidate shall
entice, induce or treat any member
of the association with a view to
*&
%
Campaign tours and visit by
candidates and all their agents and
"
'
!%
)2
5"
1&Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E; &
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%

Ijaw National Congress (INC) is a sociopolitical organisation of the Ijaw-speaking
people of Nigeria. The position of the INC on
issues is regarded as the position of the Ijaw
people. Ambaiowe, in an interaction with
a group of journalists spoke on the carnage
being perpetrated by the terrorist Islamic
group, Boko Haram; the over 200 secondary
girls a terrorist organization kidnapped
from Chibok; President Goodluck Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
perceived second term bid; institutionalised
corruption and problems associated with
nurturing democracy. NATH OMAME, Jr.
was there for Saturday Newswatch.

I

t is a few days before marking
another democracy Ă&#x;day.
What in your view has Nigeria
achieved as a nation?
The high level of insecurity in the
&
!
$
on the economy is quite worrisome.
Ordinarily, we should celebrate this
feat but the insecurity in the country
appears to dampen our enthusiasm.
The Boko Haram insurgency does
not allow us to say with every
!
%
) &
$
%
Nigeria is at the precipice. It is like
Emperor Nero who was feasting
! &!
%
(
that we have a very big problem
in our hands. But in all these, we
have to thank God because we are
still a united country. Between 1999
and now, we can agreed that the
best form of military dictatorship
cannot be compared with the
most malevolent democracy. The
freedom of expression and the
liberty to say things the way we
(! $
between civil rule and the military.
So, my take is that as a Nigerian, for
!
' (
an all-inclusive national conference
that is ongoing now; it is a major
plus in our democracy.
President Goodlcuk Jonathan
appears to have been so criticized
for non-performance. As
somebody from the same race
with him, how do you assess his
administration?
Democracy has guaranteed the
freedom of Nigerians. I commend
President Jonathan for seeing
democracy the way it is. I think he
is a thorough and complete civilian.
His approach to opposing views
has made him a stabiliser. Who is
a leader that would have appeared
in times like this that will not be
abused. For me, it is not about the
abuses. The President has remained
focused especially in the face of
the crises in the country. He has
achieved so much in just a few years.
He has even done much more than
the previous governments that we
have had in this country.
There is a grand plan for the
reburial of Isaac Adaka Boro. What
Â Â&#x2021;
Â&#x2021;
Â&#x2C6;
the Ijaw people?
Let me approach that question

from the Ijaw traditional and
cultural points if view. Until an
Ijaw man or woman has his or her
home soil, there is a missing link.
Before this time, an Ijaw man or
woman can die anywhere; you can
take the body and bury it anywhere.
But you have to take some shave
&
the toe nails and these would be
taken to his motherland and given
&%)&&
and tradition of our people. But
the circumstances surrounding
Boroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death was such that access
to his body was completely denied.
His family, his kinsmen were not
allowed to see his remains. Boro was
not just an ordinary man. He was a
hero, a champion. You know how
a hero is buried. This was not done
in those days after he was killed the
way they killed him. His reburial is
to satisfy the tradition and cultural
framework so that it will assuage the
feelings of Ijaw people whose hero
was not given a proper burial. There
is no place where we can say this is
the particular place he was buried.
How much is the Nigerian
government involved in this whole
arrangement especially now that

We will surely
surmount Boko
Haram as a country.
I am particularly
happy with the
voices that are
coming from Nigeria
and outside the
country. Hear what
the Grand Mufti
of Saudi Arabia
said. He said the
kidnapping of
children and women
are not part of Islam

A

Adebowale
an Ijaw man is the President of the
country?
The Nigerian Army has been
cooperating with the Bayelsa State
government. Since we have no
reason to believe that there is a
resistance from the authorities, we
believe that everything is on the
right path. It is the aspect of how
much in terms of money involved
that I cannot disclose at the moment.
That will not be necessary at this
point.
Nigeria is bleeding at the moment.
The kidnap of over 200 school
girls in Chibok and the high rate
of insecurity in the country have
drawn international concerns.
Do you see this as a highly
orchestrated conspiracy against the
President?
I had said it before that Nigeria
$
to the precipice. I chose those
words carefully. Let me make it
unequivocally clear as the INC
president to Nigerians and the
international community through
this avenue that the Ijaw people
cannot be fooled. All right- thinking
Nigerians that have watched
events in this country between the
transition period of the late President
Umaru Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua to former
President Jonathan particularly
the 2011 election, will know that
Boko Haram is intentionally a
northern Nigeria creation to do this
devilish work that it is doing. In the
military, what they are doing now
is called problem reaction solution.
Somebody wants something from
a given population and he is not
&
!&
solve.
This same person who created the
problem is now shouting for help
because he knows not how to solve
the problem that he created in the
"%)7
{
!
Azazi was a National Security
Adviser (NSA), and they were
shouting that President Jonathan
should change him because the
bombings had not stopped. After
Azazi was sacked, a man from their
place was appointed. But before
his appointment, they gave all the
reasons he should be appointed.
They said he would penetrate all
areas that Azazi could not penetrate.
But since then, has the bombing not
become worsened? Even at that,
nobody cares to look at the quartet
Y{ `
Y$
and the Inspector General of Police
Continued on Page 82

s Ogun State prepares to
host its second Investors
Forum from May 21 - 22,
2014, I believe strongly that there is
need to give the Governor Ibikunle
Amosun-led administration a pat
on the back for the manner with
!
&&
its avowed electoral promises of
industrialisation and employment
generation in the state.
The watchword of the state
'
*
fact that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;if you keep doing things
the same way, you will keep
&%Â&#x2026;
Thus, the state governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
approach to governance in the
last three years has brought
about several laurels and awards
both locally and internationally,
including being the fastest growing
economy in Nigeria, the architect
of the new Ogun as well as being
consecutively adjudged the most
secured state in the country.
The provision of security of lives
and property which is the duty
of government is paramount in
changing the economic face of a
state or nation.
Even, President Goodluck
Jonathan who last year referred
to Governor Ibikunle Amosun
Â&#x2019;! (
'
Â&#x2026;
at the commissioning of a mega
company, also once said that Ogun
is the only place he had visited
most, not for funfare but for the
commissioning of multi-national
companies.
Speaking at the commissioning
of United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; largest investment
in Nigeria, Procter and Gamble,
located at Agbara, Ogun State,
which is expected to provide 2,000
direct and indirect jobs, President
1
Ă&#x2DC;&
the most industrialised state in
%Â&#x2026;
It is pleasing to note that this was
the 43rd mega company to arrive
the Gateway State in less than three
years. So, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not surprised that the
up and doing Commissioner for
Commerce and Industry, Otunba
Abimbola Ashiru also pointed
out that 19 more companies have
concluded arrangements to start
business in the state this year.
It is no news that the present
administration at inception held
' 2 &
investors as well as a breakfast
meeting with the governor and
"
&
while a routine visit to various
companies across the state as
a way of sustaining the good
rapports is ongoing.
This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition, as stated
by the government would be
an avenue to showcase the
comparative advantage the
Gateway State has over others in
agriculture.
It is no news that Ogun is the
highest producer of cassava in the
country aside the fact that its soil
rubber and several other cash
crops.
Investors from several parts
of the country and beyond
would converge on Abeokuta,
the state capital soon to see the
opportunities that abound in
doing agricultural business in the
Gateway State.
As a way of encouraging
corporate organisations and

individuals to keep up the
tempo, few days ago, the state
government honoured faithful
tax payers at both corporate and
individual levels and assured that
it would not relent in using taxes
judiciously for laudable projects.
Apart from creating a secured
and an enabling environment for
business to thrive the Governor
Amosun-led administration has
aggressively transformed the
ancient Gateway State from the
19th Century to a 21st Century
state, according to the Alake
of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun
Aremu Gbadebo during the
2
* '
1
&Â&#x201A;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;%
) * '
strange to the people of Ogun
State. They have now berthed in
Sagamu, Ijebu Ode Expressway,
Ijebu-Ode town, Sapon and Itoku
areas of Abeokuta while three
are also being constructed on the
32km Sango-Akute-Ojodu road.
And, road construction projects
are ongoing in Ayetoro town, as
well as a 107km Ilara-Ijoun-Oja/
Odan-Tombolo, Ilisan/AgoIwoye road, Mowe-Ofada road,
Magboro road and the Channels
Television road, among others.
These, no doubt, are strange
feats in the state which used to be
at the centre of uproar and crisis.
However, unemployment is one
of the major problems bedevilling
the Nigerian nation. And one
lasting dividends of democracy
that could be given to the man on
the streets is job opportunity.
Unfortunately, our practice
in Nigeria is more of giving the
%{
man, they say, is the devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
workshop.
The Minister of Finance and
Co-ordinating Minister of the
Economy, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala in The Report Nigeria
2013, page 43, a publication of
Oxford Business Group, pointed
out that â&#x20AC;&#x153;unemployment is
at 23.9 per cent with youth
unemployment at around 37
per cent. In the North East of
the country where Boko Haram
thrives, unemployment is worse,
reaching 35 per cent in Yobe and
{!%Â&#x2026;

$ "&
place at all levels of government
to engage people in productive
activities, our country would in no
distant time become a a place of
%
.Onasanya wrote from
Abeokuta, Ogun State via
femlandcommunication@yahoo.

ntense scheming has
commenced among
aspirants for Ebonyi North
senatorial district election even
as more and more political
heavy weights join the fray.
Ever since Governor Martin
Elechi announced that power
will shift to Ebonyi South
senatorial district, those who
were initially eyeing the
governorship seat from Ebonyi
North have turned their
%
Most of the known aspirants
so far are from the ruling
Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
Aside Minister of Power
and Steel under General Sani
Abacha(now deceased), Chief
Godwin Ogbaga, who has
openly declared for the seat,
other notable heavy weights
currently oiling their political
machinery include a former
governor of the state, Dr. Sam
Egwu; a former senator that
represented the zone between
1999 and 2003, Sylvanus Ngele;
and the incumbent senator,
Chris Nwankwo.
In Ebonyi North senatorial
district, Egwu is said to be
preparing seriously to join
the race. Senator Nwankwo,
senior brother to Governor
Elechiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, Josephine, and
a respected elder statesman
from Izzi clan, is occupying
the position presently.
Nwankwo was earlier touted
as a prospective candidate for
the governorship race, but may
re-contest the Senate seat if the
" 6
&
slot to Ebonyi South senatorial
zone. So, should senator
Nwankwo want to re-contest
"
!
clash with Egwu, Ngele and
Ogbaga and this may lead to a
"
%
The North senatorial district
! (
the governorship seat through
Dr. Egwu (1999-2007) who
passed it to the incumbent,
Elechi who is from the Central
senatorial district and now on
his second term. That is why
many public commentators
believe him when he said
power must go to Ebonyi
South in 2015.
Ebonyi North senatorial
district is made up of four
local government areas Abakaliki, Izzi, Ebonyi and
Ohaukwu. Egwu hails from
Ohaukwu which stands alone
as distinct ethnic group,
while the remaining three
share common ethnic origin
(generically called Izzi clan).
However, within the Izzi
clan there are two major blocs;
the Igbojima and Umuera. But
Senator Ngele hails from the
Abakaliki area, the ancestral
home of Izzi clan. Senator
Chris Nwankwo hails from
Izzi Local Government Area,
while Chief Ogbaga is from
Ebonyi Local Government
Area. All the local government

Egwu
areas within the zone, with
the exception of Ebonyi Local
Government Area, have tested
the senatorial seat.
Perhaps, that is why during
his recent declaration to
contest the seat, Ogbaga
argued that it is the turn of his
local government to go to the
Senate.
Ogbaga told journalists that
!
Â&#x2020;&
occupy the seat, assuring that
! &($
%
He noted that he is favoured
by the rotation of the senatorial
position, having gone round
the other three council areas.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the moment, Ebonyi is one
of the local governments in
the zone that has not held any
senatorial position,â&#x20AC;? Ogbaga
said, pointing out that another
factor in his favour is that none
of the previous senators had
gone more than one tenure.
Said he: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Abakaliki
Local Government Area, we
have had the late Senator
Polycap Nwite, Senator
Christopher Nshii, and Senator
Nguji Ngele. In Izzi Local
Government Area, we have
had the late Senator Andrew
Nwankwo and serving Senator
Chris Nwankwo; In Ohaukwu
Local Government Area, we
have Senator Anthony Agbo
and former Governor Egwu,
who, of course, represented
the Ebonyi North slot,â&#x20AC;? he
recalled, adding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;at
the moment, Ebonyi Local
Government Area is one of
the local governments in the
zone that has not held any
senatorial position.â&#x20AC;?
However, political analysts
believe that in politics, nothing
is cast on stone. Most times,
calculations are based on
$
"
exigencies. But there are still
some politicians who would
want consideration for election
of anybody to be based on
track records and individual
merits. This is where the
objectivity and political
sagacity of the electorate will
be tasked, if only they would
%
Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu

Nwankwo
He needs no introduction in
Nigerian politics, having been
a former governor, and indeed
'
'
of Ebonyi State which was
created by the late General
Sani Abacha in October
1996. Before his election as
governor in 1999, Ewgu had
served as Commissioner for
Education under the military
governorship of Navy Capt
Walter Feghabor. Before
then, he was a lecturer at the
then College of Agricultural
Science, Abakaliki Campus of
the Enugu State University of
Science and Technology which
was later converted to the
Ebonyi State University.
After eight years on the
saddle as governor, Egwu
handed over to Governor
Elechi in 2007 and was not
long appointed Minister
of Education by the late
President Umaru Musa
Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua. As a governor,
Egwu laid the foundation for

in Abakaliki LGA,
we have had late
senator Polycap
Nwite, Senator
Christopher Nshii,
and Senator Nguji
Ngele; In Izzi LG, we
have had late Senator
Andrew Nwankwo
and serving Senator
Chris Nwankwo;
In Ohaukwu LG,
we have Senator
Anthony Agbo and
former Governor Sam
Egwu, who of course
represented Ebonyi
North slot

Elechi
Ebonyi State. He established
the Ebonyi State University
and introduced foreign
educational programmes for
Ebonyi youths among other
things. He is considered a very
colourful and compassionate
politician who likes to spread
the goodies to everybody.
Although he is from a minority
local government, Ohaukwu,
his enormous goodwill
within and outside the state,
especially the fact that the
incumbent, Governor Elechi
may decide to do pay him
back, is a huge thing going for
him.
Senator Sylvester Ngele
Senator Ngele was in the
Senate between1999 and 2003.
He was chairman, Senate
{
!
and still very close to the then
Senate President, Anyim Pius
Anyim, who is currently the
Secretary to the Government
of the Federation. Senator
Ngele could be considered
as a grassroots politician
and man of the people.
{"
*&
appointment of many youths
of Ebonyi State into federal
jobs, his innate humanitarian
nature manifested in so many
legendary philanthropic
gestures, including the
establishment of an Old
Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home for helpless
elderly people in the state. As
a senator and even out of the
Senate his house has remained
a Jerusalem of sorts for
destitute and youths seeking
help.
Chief Godwin Ogbaga
He was a Minister of Power
and Steel under General
Abacha. He used the position
to endear himself to the people
projects to the area. He later
went back into the state civil
service where he became a
permanent secretary in charge
of the State Scholarship Board.
He assisted many youths
to secure scholarship into
institutions within and outside
the country. He was to go to
the House of Representatives
in 2007, but because he was

still in the public service he
sent his wife to stand in for
%{"
!
Elizabeth to return to the
House in 2011 after she had
completed the initial four
years was unsuccessful.
Senator Chris Nwankwo
He is the current senator
representing the zone. He
is an elder statesman and
philanthropist and also the
elder brother to Mrs. Josephine
Elechi, wife of Governor
Elechi. The governor holds
him in high esteem aside
from being his in-law. Senator
Nwankwo is one of the leading
lights of the old Abakaliki zone
in the old Anambra and Enugu
states before the creation of
Ebonyi State. He was secretary
to the old Anambra State,
and at a time contested the
governorship of the old Enugu
State. Presently at over 80
years, many consider that age
is no longer on his side. But
people around him especially
those who want him to remain
politically relevant are making
$ "&
%~!
even touted to be warming
up for the governorship race
before it became clear that the
slot has been zoned to Ebonyi
South. So, should he decide to
!
indeed be interesting.
But in all this, it is expected
that the governor may weigh
in if he decides to play the role
of a god father. He may have
to step in to try balance the
equation not just within the
zone but also in other zones
in the state. There are strong
indications that he will be
contesting the Ebonyi Central
senatorial seat currently
occupied by Senator Igwe
Nwagu, chairman Senate
\ {$%
But he still has to play the
big brother or fatherly role of
trying to ensure that there is
stability not only in the party,
but also in the state so that the
boat is not rocked.
Ebonyi State has been a
stronghold of the PDP in the
South East geo-political zone
since 1999. The party has been
holding sway in the state.
However, the opposition made
appreciable impact in the
2011 general elections when
the then All Nigeria Peoples
Party (ANPP) won a House
of Representatives and two
state Assembly seats. With
the coming into being of the
All Progressives Congress
(APC), it does appear that
the dominance of PDP in
elections would be seriously
challenged in 2015, especially
if the opposition parties are
able to get their acts together.
That is why, for now, the
party has been engrossed with
ward, local government and
state congresses. And perhaps
after its national convention,
it will be charged to unleash
its political war arsenal on the
state. Then, it is expected that
the permutations will change.

81

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Politics

Why LP is popular in South
West â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Party chieftain
Dr. Rotimi Olulana is a chieftain
of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos
State. He was its governorship
candidate in 2011. In this interview
with BIMBO OGUNNAIKE, the
politician speaks on the 15 years of
democracy and the administration
of President Goodluck Jonathan
among other issues. Excerpts:

A

re you still interested in
contesting the governorship race in 2015?
It is not yet time for me to make
a pronouncement on that. I am
still watching as events unfold because right now we have a confab
going on. It is a conference that
can come up with any decisions.
The constitution of the country
may be amended; there are lots of
things to be changed. So, we still
need to wait and see the outcome
of the confab.
Do you see the confab arriving
at a logical end?
I believe in the confab. I believe
strongly that Nigerians need to sit
down together and discuss issues
that will make this country a better place for all of us. I know that
our constitution is not the problem but the operators. Most of the
"
!
to take some steps. But there are
some areas that need to be looked
into. For example, the presidential system of government we are
operating is not good enough
for this country. Why? It is too
expensive. We need to look
inward on what we can do. Do
we need to reshape our presidential system of government or go
back to the parliamentary system
of government we practiced in
the past? That is why the current
confab is of importance. We also
need to look at the issues of Boko
Haram, tribalism and a host of
other germane issues. If we are
able to sit together in a confab, we
will able to come out with ideas
and agreed on some fundamental
issues. If we are to operate on a
federal system, it must be pure
federal system. If we need to have
a kind of devolution of power, do
we need two houses in the National Assembly? Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we have
only the Senate and forget about
the House of Representatives?
Or, canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we retain the House of
Representatives and forget about
the Senate? It is very expensive
to run the two together. We also
need to discuss how many ministers we should have. We also
need to look at the issue of states
and local government creation.
Do we need new additions to the
present ones? The ones that are
existing, are they really viable?
These are the fundamental issues
that need to be looked into. That
is why I believe in the confab. I
believe we can come out with
something good at the end of the
day.

But some people are nursing
the fear that at the end of the
day the recommendations of the
confab may not be implemented.
Do you share their view?
It is true that we have had many
confabs in the past and nothing
came out of them. In the present
confab of President Jonathan,
you can see that the man has
some elements of truthfulness.
People might look at him and
say he is this and that; but I can
assure you that the man has good
programmes, good intellectuals
and good advisers in his governments.
But he is yet to address the issue
of power failure in the country...
(cuts in)
President Jonathan is working
seriously to address the problem
of power failure in the country.
I believe in him, I believe he can
make some serious impact for the
advancement of this country.
What is your own assessment
of the 15 years of democracy in
Nigeria?
If we are to look at the performances in all the states constituting Nigeria in the last 15 years,
you will see that only few of them
are performing. Even in those
states that are performing, crooks
have taken over, siphoning the
statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; money. Corruption has
eaten deep into the fabric of this
nation in the last 15 years. To me,
the 15 years of democracy has not
been too good. In my state, Lagos
State, I can tell that yes, we have
good roads; we have ministries
that are really working but where
are the local governments? What
are the responsibilities of the local
governments? Are they performing? The answer is no. If in a state
like Lagos you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t count more
than 10 local governments that
are working, that tells we are
nowhere. Generally in Nigeria,
how many state governments are
performing? In my own view, I
think we have a maximum of six
states that are performing. We
have Ondo State and the credit
goes to the LP under the ableleadership of Governor Olusegun
Mimiko. We have Lagos State under Governor Babatunde Fashola
of the All Progressives Congress
(APC); Akwa Ibom State under
Governor Godswill Akpabio;
Rivers State under the leadership
of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and
few others in a country where we
have 36 states. If we have only six

Olulana
out of 36, then that tells you that
we are not performing at all. So,
we have not made progress in the
last 15 years of our democratic
journey. The people at the helm
of leadership are not the kind of
people that are supposed to be
ruling Nigeria.
But how best do you think corruption can be tamed?
No government in Nigeria has
been able to curtail the problem
of corruption, and I will tell you
why. The late Sani Abacha and
his cronies stole a lot of money
but none of those who are still
living has been brought to justice.
Most of them are still walking
freely in Nigeria. We need to ask
ourselves some pertinent questions. Who was the Central Bank
of Nigeria governor during the

people can see
clearly that there
is the urgent need
to make a shift
and the shift can
be nowhere except
in the LP. If you
want a responsible
government,
you have to look
for LP. It is as
simple as abc.
That is what is
responsible for
the advancement
of LP in the South
West

time? Who was the Minister of
Finance during his time? Who
!
period? These people need to
be rounded up to explain what
transpired. Abacha alone cannot
siphon money to Swiss and other
(%`
must be some collaborators. Any
serious government needs to take
the issue of corruption seriously.
To me, since the inception of this
democracy, I have never seen
&"
headlong. I want a disciplined
leader; a leader that will stand by
his words; but unfortunately, I
have never seen any such. That
type of leader needs people like
us to tell him the truth that he has
not performed.
Your party seems to be making
some inroads in the South West.
What is responsible for this?
To me, I believe that when
somebody is performing, people
will see it. The only governor we
have in the LP today is performing. Governor Mimiko has
performed excellently well in
Ondo State. The people of the
state are living witnesses to the
revolution going on in the state
because the LP is a people-oriented and masses party. It is a party
of workers. Discipline- minded
people are in the LP. People who
'
of every citizens of this country
are in our party. If you see people
trooping into the LP in the region,
it should not be a new thing.
Nigerians are yet to understand
what we call democracy and
good governance. What Nigeri
'
Â&#x2021;
years of democracy is the sharing
%&
!
people can see that they are suffering and there is no work; no
employment opportunities. So,
people can see clearly that there is
urgent need to make a shift and
the shift can be nowhere except in
the LP. If you want a responsible
government, you have to look for
the LP. That is what is responsible
for the advancement of the LP in
the South West.

thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why our boys do 419, let
us now regenerate that 419 into
positive production in Nigeria
and we make sure the roads are
good, if we have good roads,
there wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be much accident,
we have lost too much people
through accident, with the
$ Y&
&
children had an accident with
Ă­!
home to show us only because
of the gallops Aregbesola has
& 5
& %Y
want to say that we are coming
with genuine intention and with
$ !'
&
up, we would make sure that
we revolutionalise Osun and we
will make sure that we put our
*
&
&&
have before you can join my
team is to make sure that you
!
2
2*
service and if you are ready to
do that and turn Osun round,
of course we will pay you your
salary, but we must make sure
that our own must not be like
the present administration of
Aregbesola when you have to
take all contracts to Lagos so
that you can hide what you are
stealing. I want to use myself as
an example, I am a successful;
businessman, I worked for
people in America, I happened
to be the only Nigeria that was
part of the team that developed
personal computers, I worked
with ICN, I was sent to Kenya
as an expatriate, I came back
to Nigeria, I was the best sales
man in the whole world, by the
time I came down to Nigeria, I
established my company and I
have a track-record to show that
am a successful businessman, I
have veered into politics, I have
gone into the Senate, go and ask
of me in the Senate, they will tell
you who I am, why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I do it
for my own state? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why
we are coming home and I can
assure that we will do it.
Â
Â&#x2C6;
many fears that there would
be violence in the forthcoming

Â&#x2C6;
Â&#x2021;
Â&#x201C;
this sir?
I am not a violent man, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
&!
&"& &
hands in my mouth, I can bite
you. I am not going out to bring
violence, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to rig, if
I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win the election, there
is a place I can return to. I am
the managing Director of my
company; I am the chairman of
private companies and public
â&#x20AC;&#x201C;private liabilities company,
so why do I have to engage in
violence? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a do or die
$ ! !
$'
reason for it but I want to plead
with those who intend to rig to
desist, enough is enough, we
had the worst of situation in
Osun and we want this state to
develop, please allow this state
to develop and if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do,
I will plead with the gods of this
state to deal with them because
they are only coming in to this
state to steal the government
money. We have their trackrecords, we have seen what they
have done in many places and
we know that they will come
here only to steal and God will
never allow them.

82

Saturday Newswatch, May 17, 2014

Politics

Benueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problem is mass
poverty â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Governorship aspirant
a government of free enterprise, not
bureaucracy.
I am contesting election as
a private sector player; I am
contesting election against
bureaucrats; I am a change agent. I
\`\
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;
year of democratic change.
A powerful economy can give rise
&
deals for teachers and enhanced
quality of life; prosperity for us and
our children. I stand to change the
way government is run.

W

hat is your plan for Benue
State?
I have the audacity
of faith. I have risen to take the
challenge that if one is bold enough
to lead, he should come up not by
way of money but by way of what
he can do. I am an industrialist.
I left public service in 1987. I am
the president and founder of New
Land Investment which is mainly
into agriculture. I have something to
$
&%
+
!
&%
'
'
'
&
forward, a vision that will make
& ' "%\
lives and property will be my
priority. The governor has direct
responsibility for welfare of the
people. Security means you cannot
sleep while your people are being
killed. Security and welfare are the
two things; but can we say all is well
!&
&Ă&#x2019;
What is wrong with Benue?
I will tell you what is wrong.
&
mass poverty. The people are poor.
The people that are rich cannot
help others. This denies you what
you should naturally have; but the
poverty is reversible because that is
what we are coming to address.
This kind of poverty is false, that
is, it is a poverty that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
%
&Y
stupendous natural resources.
Â&#x2C6;
& '
have unfortunately looked only in
the direction of Abuja for federal
allocation. The key is in the hands of
the governor. No state government
can go higher than the vision of
the governor who determines for
the state; that is, who comes in and
what goes out.
Can you give insight into your
manifesto?
+
&
Miracle. The state has agricultural
potentials because God gave us
fertile land. You will recall that in
2013, Dangote Cement sold up
to N400 billion with 600 worth of
metric tons of limestone available in
&%{5 'Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;
%
& '
&
Cement, he brought in foreign
hands and foreign funding. I have
the intention of building a bigger,
more viable cement company in
&Y%
Workers take over 75 per cent of
'
" Â&#x20AC;%\ "
&
commissioners, the commissioners
are chasing the governor and the
governor is chasing Abuja. This is
the time to break the vicious circle.
My vision is in the building of a
strong economy. After all, China,
the United States of America, Japan
and Germany do not depend on
allocations.
Any governorship aspirant who
says he will continue in the steps of
'
$
because the governor is saying
where he goes no longer helps him
because of paucity of funds. I will
harness our natural wealth. We will
increase salaries with abundant
resources available in the state. It
is only a strong economy that can
bring about development.

Shieshe

Benue State governorship aspirant on
the platform of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Shieshe, does
not believe that the state should depend
on federal allocation because it is blessed
with abundant natural resources. He told
GODWIN AKOR that he would make
the state the hub of industries if elected
governor next year. Excerpts:
Does Benue have another
problem?
Another serious problem is youth
unemployment. I got employed
when I was 20 years but today,
hundreds of thousands youths are
unemployed. Governor Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State has sent the
young ones all over the world for
training. There is need for modern
training in education. We are neither
&
industry.
Weak and dependent economy
brings about the twin problems of
mass poverty and unemployment.
We have not started handling
agriculture yet; it is not subsistence
agriculture one is talking about.
What we need is commercial
agriculture. The cargo airport will
help. Within two years, I will build a
cement industry that will be bigger
than what we have today.
Governor ought to be elected
through popular vote. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
stand by the type of governor you
want, somebody can foist on you
the person you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want. You
may have to sell your rights because
the person that has the thing that
you swallowed will dictate what
you do. The person who has the
cash can impose a candidate and
the people will keep crying.

!
&
&Y
a manufacturing hub. China has
taken 700 million of its people out of
poverty. They built infrastructure,
and made manufacturing the hub
of the economy. Investors came in
to invest and employed the Chinese
who began to have disposable
income to buy vehicles, build
houses and industries themselves.
China has enhanced its education
system. That is the template I want

&%
!
&
5"%
)"
'
&
State to make glass. I will build a
glass industry; my vision takes the
template of Japan and Hong Kong.
My agriculture takes the template of
Israel through irrigation with which
we will have a lot of rice. It must be

Benue state has
the headache of
mass poverty. The
people are poor.
The people that
are rich cannot
help others.
This denies you
what you should
naturally have
but the poverty is
reversible because
that is what we
are coming to
address

What about the Fulani problem?
The Fulani had power before
colonial rule; they delayed
independence until they were
strong enough. The Sokoto
"5
%
They have got a lot of political
power they used to source for
farming or grazing reserves.
Hegemony with the caliphate
created grazing reserves which are
good but only for pastoralists. It is
against equity and fairness. For me,
if the Igbo man does not give his
shop but something from the shop,
! &
&
his land to a force that will create
& (Ă&#x2019;)
'
&Y &
take over its land and make good
use of it.
No governor can preside over
the dead. Fulani insurgents
'5" &
of depending on the central
government; we have a right to
self-defence.
What will be your source of power
for the proposed industries?
It will be found in independent
" !
%\ "'
not been thinking correctly. My
administration will build and
operate hydro power. Connecting
& Â&#x192;{" ! &
(
%&
running and operating independent
power source is job for the boys.
There is coal at Owukpa; it could be
hydro, and it could be thermal.
But you have contested election
before.
In 2006, I got up to take over from
former Governor George Akume.
At the level of consultation, I
stepped down. A governor is taking
over power with consultations
with his people. The Tiv man
hates avarice; and dominance. I
am from Jechira. I had met Akume
for discussion and the incumbent
came in. It occurred to me that the
Tiv bloc decided to zero on the
Y
(5%
{
senatorial zones but governorship
has no zone. Electoral laws, Federal
7 '
\`\
&
culture have not said so. In the
Tiv bloc, MINDA came out early
and sat alone to contest but the Tiv
nation has not zoned the position
to them. They sat alone and zoned
it to themselves, premised on a
faulty assumption. Jechira had an
aborted mandate or tenure which
must be corrected. Jechira should
get it before MINDA. Thereafter,
it will go to MINDA. They did the
publicity so much that some people
have come to discover that it is
%1&$
as a result of military rule.

including the Controller of Customs
who are all from the North. Is it
\
1
&
the Nigerian borders that has given
! "
Ă&#x2019;

\
"
that should protect the whole place,
'
" "
Ă&#x2019;
Another crucial factor is that
there have been coups and counter
coups in this country. Everybody
that has come up has been trying
to weaken the military. All the rots
'&&
over the years. This failure cannot
\
1
2
creation. The only reason the
\
&
& '
blame is that the constitution
makes him the chief accounting
&
!
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces. That means that the buck
stops on his table. If you look at the
'
\
1
you will certainly agree with me
that he has tried. Take a look at the
railway system, electricity, road
&
%&
sometimes, I wonder aloud that
if the previous governments had
worked like this, would we have
seen this monumental problem!
\ "\
done enough to combat corruption.
Some of them who are talking
have institutionalized corruption
while some had even established
&"
\
Jonathan was born. They stole
money and took it to Swiss banks
and other places around the world.
& " "
shouting the loudest.
Boko Haram leader, Abubakar
Shekau, in his recent video said
he was ready to swap the 200
kidnapped girls with his terrorist
colleagues who are in various
government cells and prisons.
What is the position of the INC on
this?
{
( ~
!
#!\
Jonathan must be resisted by
Nigerians. Any kind of proposal
placed before Nigerians contrary to
the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constitutional order
and the defense of our inalienable
rights and liberty and that could
paint us bad must be rejected.
America says it would never
negotiate its liberty with anybody.

( ~
terms that they should release
the Chibok girls unconditionally.

\
Jonathan must convert to Islam if he
!
&\
%`
&!
& "Ă&#x2019;)
coming cleverly through the back
door to justify those who have been
sabotaging the country. For us in the
INC, we want to say that if this does
not stop, we will rather be a tiny
country as Ijaw people like the state
of Israel rather than live as slaves
in the Egypt of Nigeria. Nobody
has ever conquered the Ijaw. It
will not happen now even if that
person is day-dreaming. We will
&& &
( ~
a country. I am particularly happy
with the voices that are coming from
Nigeria and outside the country.
Hear what the Grand Mufti of Saudi
Arabia said. He said the kidnapping
of children and women is not
"
%) ( ~
agents are bigots who are simply
masquerading as Muslims.

kills for sexual pleasure or satisfaction
include the following:
SUnderstanding
the most important sex
organs of a couple
For a woman, it is the mind, while for the
man it is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (male organ); these must
be worked upon and maintained if they will
produce maximum satisfaction for the couple.
Women need love before they can talk of
5%Y
! !
wife to be sexually responsive to him, all the
time, must learn to play is the love game.
This demands that the husband uses every
opportunity to tell his wife how much he
loves her. This requires verbal expressions
'Â&#x201C;
& (
wellbeing of his wife, discovering her love
keys and using them, romantic plays etc. All
these make it easier for the wife to be tuned on
for sex.
The wife must also learn the things she has
to do with the husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organ, handling it
skillfully to give him pleasure. This includes
rubbing it against her inner part, or with her
%
Striking ways to give a woman maximum
sexual pleasure.
It is not just enough to rise and sink inside
her; you must know the way to strike to hit the
7#" &!% &
$
is to produce orgasm for the wife. To achieve
this, it is not how deep you go inside, but
staying within three inches inside could give
$%

"
you take to go in that will enable you hit the
right angle inside your woman. So, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just
do 1,2; but do it for maximum impact .
Body exploration for male and female must
also be learnt if the necessary satisfaction
will be derived. That is, the way you handle
one anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bodies for arousal. This
&&

&
hairs, touching the ear lobes, massaging the
&
&
(
around the sex organs, thigh, stomach, and the
nipples.
Of course, the usual kissing is part of such
body exploration. However, there are many
types of kisses which you can use for sexual
pleasure.
`$
5"
'5&
satisfaction to the couple
New sex styles create great excitement
&"5"
!
deriving sexual satisfaction for each other. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
like eating a type of food in many ways i.e.
eating beans as moin moin, akara, beans soup
[gbegiri], etc. You can also try new locations
$
%
&'
always done it at night, try during the day. If it
has always been in your house, you can go for
a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;retreatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with your loved one. You can read
these in details with graphical illustration in
my book, ENJOY GREAT SEX LIFE.
Romantic tips for sexual pleasure
{'
"
Â&#x201C;! &
'#
and romantic atmosphere that is conducive
"(
!
&
&" &
at every unexpected moment. To ensure a
'#
"
home, you must â&#x20AC;&#x153;stay in touchâ&#x20AC;? with your
spouse. This will entail you touching him/her,
"(
&
to watch television, sending text messages etc
You can also do the following romantic
Ă&#x201D;
&"'
as a gift for your partner, together with a love
card with this message â&#x20AC;&#x153;In this mirror you
will see the image of the most beautiful and
adorable lady in the world.â&#x20AC;?
~'* !' &"
2
workplace. He/she will not only enjoy the
* !
&!
the colleagues to keep him/her blushing all
day long.
To be continued next week

By Amina Brai Omoike

F

!
"&
Angela Edem maintained the
typical student sleep schedule:
slept at 2am, woke at 7am for her lecture
at 8am, and went through the rest of the
day. Like most students, she preferred
to spend time with her friends and
boyfriend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many of those nights made
for wonderful memories, but other
2
5"
&"
' &
"(
with my boyfriend who is my now
husband in the wee hours of the night,â&#x20AC;?
she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He always told me that I was
probably tired, but I often denied it. He
just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get what I was feeling.â&#x20AC;?
Sleep deprivation often is overlooked
as a reason for relationship problems.
This is unfortunate; because it can do
series of damage, and is a solvable
problem. According to James Maas,
PhD, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading sleep
researcher and educator, 74 percent of
North Americans are seriously sleep
deprived, and most of them donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even
know it. Nearly all North Americans
have some sleep deprivation.
Psychologists have carried out series of
studies, and come to the conclusion that
"
&
*
&"%
A bad night of sleep is associated with
more frequent, more severe, and less
'
*
&"%
It is believed that feeling tired is
(
*
& &
be surprised that having a tired partner
( & ( "(%
Most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t consider the
harmful impact sleep deprivation
has on their relationships. Chronic
tiredness can contribute to relationships
falling apart. When we consistently get
enough of the right kind of sleep (REM
and Stage 4 sleep), we can have major
improvements on how we get along with
others. Overcoming sleep deprivation
can even prevent relationship break-

ups and divorce.
In a study conducted by the University
of California, Berkeley, researchers
found that lack of sleep could have
' $
5"
gratitude. This lack of thanks may
ultimately put a strain on relationships.
Researchers explained that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;poor
" ( &
we prioritise our own needs over our
partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.â&#x20AC;?
Amie M. Gordon, Ph.D., studies the role
of pro-social emotions (e.g. gratitude)
and cognitions (e.g. perspective taking)
in close relationships. She also conducts
research on the impact of sleep on
relationship quality. She blogs for
Psychology Today in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Between You
and Me,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and gives three reasons why
couples should consider sleeping before
they start disagreeing.
1. Sleepless people are more likely to
bicker
Research participants were made to
complete a daily survey for two weeks.
Each morning when they woke up,
they recorded how well and for how
long theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d slept the previous night.
Each night before going to bed, they
said whether, and how much, they had
fought with their partner that day. The
result was that the worse people slept
the night before, the more they reported
!"
Ă¤
Researchers also tested to ensure that
&
!
&"
anxiety, anger or stress. They found
that the association between sleep and
* !
2 &
factors.
)
( "Â&#x201C;
not the fact that their partner caused it
! !
*
following day.
Â&#x201A;% { "
"
*
more severe
In a second study, people who
reported sleeping poorly the previous
night experienced fewer positive
emotions and more negative emotions,
and were less able to take their partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
perspective
during
conversations,
both of which can hurt the well-being
and longevity of the relationship.

Researchers also noticed that if your
partner doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sleep well, you also
experience fewer positive emotions and
more negative emotions, and you are
less able to take their perspective in a
disagreement even if you slept well.
So if a partner doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a good

2"
"
$
! %
3. Sleepy couples are less able to
'
*
Participants were most likely to
" '
*!
partners were well-rested. If either
partner had slept poorly the previous

! (
resolved.
!
*
resolution, we found that it takes just
one poorly rested partner to trigger and
!
*%
People who are sleep deprived tend to
experience more negative emotions are
more reactive to negative events and are
worse at solving problems. Someone
who is sleep-deprived can be a ticking
time bomb, reacting automatically
without the capacity to stop and think
it through.
)
Ă&#x2019;
&
tired, put the problem aside until
morning. You just might wake up to
&
!%
{
5
!
sleep, so making sure you get enough
solid sleep is one of the most important

ROMANCE TIPS
Â&#x2022; Hide a love note in his
briefcase.
Â&#x2022; Send a sweet text
message, for no reason
at all.
Â&#x2022; Send a sexy text
message, for a very good
reason.

85

Saturday Newswatch, May 24, 2014

Brides&Grooms

affects your relationship
things you can do for your body and
your libido. When your sleep is cut
short, your body does not have enough
time to complete the essential process
of releasing hormones and other
important actions. This may negatively
$
&
5'%
A study in The Journal of American
Medical Association found that lack
of sleep may have a direct impact on
testosterone production in men. The
results showed that testosterone levels
dropped by 10 to 15 percent in men
!
&
"% \&
also shows strong evidence that low
testosterone levels frequently occur in
men with sleep apnea.
Healthy habit for restful sleep is an
important area for you to look at in
your own life. Research shows practices
for restorative sleep can help you have
"% ~ !'
proven successful routines and tools for
a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep go against many
common lifestyle choices. These choices
5"
! ! "
deprived.
The good news is that there are many
$
! " ' &Â&#x2020;&
of sleep. Here are some easy tips to get
"Ă&#x201D;
Y Ă&#x201D;
peaceful, quiet environment is essential
to take charge of your sleeping habits.
Make sure that you are sleeping in total
(
% 8 $ & "
glandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production of the substances
serotonin and melatonin which help
& "% )&
$ &
even the light on your alarm clock! You
&
$ "&
TV an hour before bed. Generally, keep
your electronics out of the bedroom.
{ "Ă&#x201D;{
"
aromatherapy. Lavender essential
oil is super for calming the body, and
promoting a great nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep. You
can add some to a bath or dab some
onto your skin before bed.
~
Ă&#x201D; {'
&
(
$
Â&#x201A;"%%{ ' '
alcohol and sip on some chamomile or
valerian tea instead. Chamomile has
always been well known as a bedtime
&'
'
$'
as a sleep aid!

Forever in love...

A

Kosubosu Area Court in Kwara has
dissolved the marriage between one
Zainab Duro and her husband, Bio,
'Â&#x2020;&
%
Zainab told the court that her estranged
husband often engaged her in frequent
&
"
with the relationship.
The petitioner, who asserted that she
could not remember the year their marriage
was contracted, however, told the court that
the union was blessed with three children.
She pleaded for divorce, saying her life
was under threat.
) "
the court, consented to Zainabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plea for
divorce.
``I, Bio Sikan Duro of Bweru village forgive
my wife by name Zainab Bio Sikan Duro of
Shiya village and I agree to allow her to go
and marry anybody she likes, even if it is in
Bweru village.
``However, when my children reach the
age of retrieval, I want her to return them
(Â&#x2026;%

'"
+
{Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;
!
'
divorce is hereby entered in favour of the
"
$%22
Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;) "
$
' #
Iddah (Islamic period of waiting) before
! '
to be issued to her upon payment of court
fee.â&#x20AC;?
Yahaya said that any aggrieved party had
the right to appeal before an Upper Area
Court within 30 days.

A
Y
Ă&#x201D; )
""
most important tip would be to keep
a schedule with your sleeping habits.
Sleeping and rising around the same
time each day helps to follow the
routine of your inner clock instead of
!
$ "
make up for lost sleep on the weekends.
Go to bed and get up at the same time
seven days a week. Try and get at least
eight hours of sleep every night.

Healthy habit
for restful sleep
is an important
area for you to
look at in your
own life. Research
shows practices for
restorative sleep
can help you have a
better relationship
Mr. Nnamdi Nwokocha with his wife, Ada, during their wedding in Ibusa, Delta State
.... recently.

Court dissolves
marriage over wife
battering

n Ilorin Area Court has
' '##
marriage between one Aliyu
Mukaila and his wife, Jemilat, over the
2

%
Aliyu, 43, a resident of Alore Area
of Ilorin, had approached the court
to dissolve his marriage to Jemilat,
alleging that she was disrespectful to
his parents and relatives.
He told the court that his wife had
the habit of â&#x20AC;&#x153;barkingâ&#x20AC;? at his parents
and relatives, and was doing so to
discourage them from coming to his
house.
The complainant cited instances
of Jemilatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bad conduct before his
parents, adding that the marriage,
!!
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x192;Ă?
produced a child.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;My lord, I want an end to this
marriage because I cannot deny my
parents and relatives just because of a
woman,â&#x20AC;? Aliyu said.
Jemilat told the court that she had
no objection to her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prayer
to the court, saying that she was tired
#!
marriage.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I see no need enduring in an
unproductive marriage, and I am fed
&" ! 5
' '
private life,â&#x20AC;? she said.
Jemilat urged the court to grant the
prayer of her husband without any
claim.
The judge, Mr. Yusuf Abdulkareem,
dissolved the marriage, and issued a
' {&%

Should married people take separate vacations?
Vacations are times to relax and refresh oneself after many weeks of
stressful work.
Most working-class couples have limited annual holiday, and they
want to spend that time ensuring they relax. However, ones idea of
!/%.O+/3
Figures from a report in 2009 by American Express suggested that
65 percent of British couples fall out with their families before they
even arrive at their destination. Hence, people believe that if couples
holiday separately and return refreshed, then that should be good for
their relationship, right?
AMINA BRAI OMOIKE sampled opinions on whether married
couples should go on separate vacations.

es, sometimes people in marriage lose
their individual identities by focusing
too much on their partner and â&#x20AC;&#x153;being
&"Â&#x2026;%~" "' #
%
!
" & &
Ă&#x2DC; &2
&
Â&#x20AC; %
&
back together, having new things to discuss
and talk about can remind each of you why
& %
hand, it could be a sign that things are not
!%{Â&#x2019;
!Â&#x2026; &
&
&$ %
Good communication leads to trust, and you
should be able to trust that time spent apart
!
2
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alex
I think it depends on the people in the
"%
'
married for 33 years, and any reasonable
!
%~
husband loves her and wants her to be
""% !
if I were to ask to go on vacation without
! &Â&#x2020;&
%%%`

'
%)
is marriage should be about supporting one

another within the relationship, and growing
and pursuing common goals as well as
'& %
'
32!2
4%+(
! ( '
means growing and changing together,
and sometimes that means doing things on
& !
%
&" &
( &
should take a vacation without him / her,
examine the real reasons, and take it from
there â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
|

'Â&#x2019;
Â&#x2026;
2
impossible to see everyone, every year! So,
! $
&"
a year, and it is good for us and our families
Â&#x2014;

'!
&
Â&#x2019;
*%Â&#x2026;2'
!2 %
&
2
(
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&
&
"
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! &
recommend a vacation where each of you can
Â&#x20AC; 3%% &
like shopping, he likes golf, you go to a resort
!2 ""
4
you can do those things together Â&#x2014;
Â&#x2021;

{Ă¤
2
'!
'
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5#!
"
!
!%
2 !
"
relationship, unless it is about to break apart,
and a separate holiday would give both
people time to think Â&#x2014;Â&#x2C6;

It honestly depends on the two people
' '%+"
&
2
(
$
'
&2
&
" " "!%
&
Â&#x20AC;&2"
&
&
"%|'
"$
and what may work for one couple may

! (
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&!!
2 &
should try to spend more time with each
%
2
&2
$
&
"
&2
both okay with it, then why change it Â&#x2014;

2'
'"
!%
Sometimes, we go on trips together, and
2 !
!

2
&
&
'
%
'(
'
! &
!%&2
&
'

Sure, as long as you both have separate
'
!'
%{
you both are okay with it Â&#x2014;

To be Continued next week

Bridal tips:What to wear to a spring wedding
O

ne of the most fun, and also the most
agonizing parts of being a wedding
&&
&! !%
Even if the invitation clearly states the dress
(
"" "
dress especially when there is no aso-ebi or
&%
It might not be spring in Nigeria but
the weather is still characterized by some
cool breeze, light or heavy rainfall â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which
means bright colours are needed to add fun
"%
Most weddings are semi-formal,
meaning you should choose a cocktail
dress for evening, and a short dress or suit
%
'
2'
you any clues, semi-formal dresses are the
best choice for what to wear to a spring
!
%
Look for to-the-knee or slightly above
(
(($
$
%+
all, look for something that makes you feel
beautiful, and helps you want to celebrate!
One of the current trends is for pastel
%
For a black-tie-optional spring wedding,
chose a dress that is more formal than a
(
&
2Â&#x2020;&
'
!
% &
"
* #
%
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;
"
5 &2
'& &
Ă¤&%

have been dating a girl for about
four months now, and she is really
nice and fun to be with. Some days
ago, we were together and a younger
friend said he knew this girl back in
school and that she was a gold-digger,
though not a bad girl per se. How do
I spot a gold digger?
Sunday, Lagos

Sunday,
In your opinion, who is a gold digger?
There is nothing wrong with a person
)%.)`
stability. A long-term partnership means
depending on each other through the
"(..#(.)%`
reliable does help with that to a degree.
.O)#%..%%
and someone who values your role as a
provider is that the gold digger would
leave you if you lose your ability to provide
+/`3%."(
""`(()
gold digger appreciates only that, and will
not see the relationship as worthwhile if
`'#O3
Gold diggers drop hints that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re
having trouble paying their bills. They
know that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to see them
(O.`'%."(#'(
"("3'(.O
between a gold digger and someone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
just fallen on bad times. What you should
be looking for is if despite their situation,
("((/$%"
decisions. Does she buy an expensive
Smartphone when she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have
enough transport money etc? Does she like
to live, dress and eat big even if she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
have a job? Many gold diggers know
)}($`+./
luxurious tastes, at least in the beginning;
theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll tap into your desire to help them
O.%(`.,+.(
and transportation) so that they can spend
their own money on the things they want.
Search for signs of generosity and
gratitude towards you. After having gone
on several dates, has this person ever
O."`Â&#x20AC;`."`.((
(`$`Â&#x20AC;((0O"
you in other ways â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cooking dinner when
youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been out working late? Clean your
apartment? Run an errand for you when
your scheduleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially tight? If these
character traits are missing, is this really
someone you want to get involved with?
A person doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t develop gratitude and
generosity overnight.
If this person complains that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
ever do anything nice anymore, think of
two or three inexpensive dates and one
expensive one and see what your date says.
A gold digger will reliably pick out the
most expensive one, every time.
Once a physical relationship has started,
a gold digger will usually not engage
in â&#x20AC;&#x153;physicalâ&#x20AC;? activities unless given
incentive i.e. taken on a date, given a gift,
etc.
Like you have started doing, watch other
peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reactions when they hear youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve
been out with someone or spending time
#(/3+(#}/"
to subtly let you know through reactions
and comments that the person is a gold
digger.
Most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be obliged
to collect large sums of money from new
dates. A gold digger doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be
prompted twice to take a â&#x20AC;&#x153;loanâ&#x20AC;? from you.
Think about what makes sense: Would you
open up to someone you just met about
`#(Â&#x20AC;.`$
a loan from a girl youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been out with
once? Probably not, but a gold digger is
looking for his or her next â&#x20AC;&#x153;sugar daddyâ&#x20AC;?
at all times.
Also, you can learn a lot from people
close to them.

Dating Calls

My step-daughter is
dating an older man
M

I am Femi, 35 years old and a native
of Kwara State, based in Osun. I am
in need of someone who will love me
for who I am, care for me and wipe
!
&
down at the moment. This is not a onenight sand, but a companion to share
my life with. Call: 07060467330

Funmi,
I understand your feelings, but your husband
shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel so terrible; it might just be the law of
karma working! Your teenage daughter is probably
into older guys, and if she thinks she is in love, she
wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t listen to anyone. She wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise what she
is doing until it is too late. Of course, you are upset,
because you are a lady. The truth is that parents donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

y hubby is 45 now and I found out that
one of his former girlfriends was 15
when he was 25, and they had sex. I
believe there might have been another girl who
was underage when he was 27 or 28 as well.
Now, my husband has a 17-year-old daughter in
the higher institution who he absolutely adores.
We just found out that she is dating a 32-yearoldman. He gets really upset at the thought of
his teenage daughter being with an older man.
Funmi, Abeokuta

realise the error in their ways until their children do it.
$.((""(.))}##3
it is harder for kids these days, because there are more
opportunities now than there were when you were
younger.
To your husband, his then girlfriend wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, or sister, or mother, or friend. She
was just a young girl he wanted to get down with. But
now that he is seeing what he shouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen, he knows
what her dad wanted to do to him if he found out.
To be honest, I think your husband feels guilty about
his past. What he did is not exactly an acceptable thing
to do in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society. However, the past is past, and
thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing anybody can do to change it now.
You shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be too upset with him because that
has been so long ago, and he is just trying to be a
good parent because looking back at his experiences, it
probably wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worth it. You both should try and talk
to the daughter and her boyfriend about the issue.

I am Temi from Kogi State, aged 30
and living in Ogun State. I am average
height and seriously needs a workingclass lady or nurse for a serious
relationship that can lead to marriage.
She must be aged 18 to 29 years, and
must be good looking from any part
of the country. Call: 08179675371,
08180855252
Dr. Femi, male, 38, single, works with
National Hospital, Abuja and needs a
God-fearing lady between the ages of
32 to 37 for wife. Call: 08152288957
Joseph; male, 26, undergraduate,
writer, principled and ambitious,
needs friendly and intelligent friends.
Call: 07031262179
Ralph, male, 39, Christian, Genotype
AA, businessman based in Lagos,

"
between 30 and 38 years old as wife.
She must be a graduate and gainfully
employed. She can come from any
tribe. Call: 07080083202, 08034062881
Chris, 25, student, needs a sugar
mummy for a relationship.
Call: 07068893543

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pregnant for my estranged boyfriend

I

am six months pregnant, and my boyfriend and I
were together for two years. I have another child
!$
&! !
!
a baby. So the only guy my son knows as his father
was my current boyfriend. I was happy and thought
everything was going good. One day, he just told me
that he wanted to break up with me, and that I trapped
!"
%~
(
with no money to buy food and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work because of
my pregnancy. I have always supported myself, and
am really upset that he has walked out on me at his
time. I am really upset and scared, unsure whether he
should be there when the baby is born.
Andeline, Asaba
Andeline,
This is all so hard for you now, but it might be a blessing
in disguise that he left. Do you have any relatives or friends
"`(.)("".
before you go back to work? Begin planning and seeking
supportive services now. Unfortunately, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live in
an ideal world where everyone gets a good paying job they
can live with, or a spouse that will support them, or own a
business that succeeds. Many men are in the same situation
as single mothers are with single parenting as well, but the

fact remains that most single parents are women.
Although you feel heartbroken now, you must realise that
this guy is an abuser and does not have a place in your life
`/3'//)$/}#.(
try to convince you to let him come back. He will very likely
come crawling, begging for forgiveness, playing the victim
and blaming you or the devil for his behaviour. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall for
it. It will only get worse if you let him back in.
Neither of the fathers should get away without paying
child support. You will need the extra income to help raise
them. The childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well being and yours could be adversely
O.+``(.("()`)`
`(+3`%.(%`+/%}%
help against both fathers.
Do not be afraid to be a single parent. The deed is already
.Â&#x2C6;#`%}%"%+/`#
/.3.'#``#..0%3
You deserve happiness, love and a good life as anyone else.
If you let circumstances tell you that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have what you
want, then you are sending the wrong energy out and cannot
}%.+%./3
Just surround yourself with supportive friends and
family. Call anyone you know that will help you, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
be afraid to ask. Get emotional support to help you through
the break-up.

Do you have a relationship or emotional issue to share or seek
advice on? Contact the number above (SMS only).

Philip, 35, is looking for a sugar
mummy from any tribe.
Call: 08060728658
I am Engr. Martins, 40 years old. I
need a serious-minded lady who is
God-fearing between the ages of 25
and 35 for a relationship that will result
in marriage.
Call: 0903649082, 08054125869
Godwin, 40, needs a wealthy sugar
mummy for a good relationship.
Call: 08052111543
I am a 24 year old young man, based
in Lagos. I need a lady between 25 and
26 years for a relationship.
Call: 08189299957
Francis, 35, businessman needs
an educated, working-class lady
between 25 and 35 years for a serious
relationship. Call: 08091030245

!'\
will soon have a feel of
World Cup experience
as Transformation Ambas*
sadors of Nigeria (TAN) has
almost concluded plans to
Â&#x2020;'!
0 9
to watch all Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Super
Eagles group matches.
!!
Â&#x2021;*
*
tional, Waidi Akanni, who is
also one of the coordinators
' Â&#x2C6;
Â&#x2020;'\0 9
under the project â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fly Me To
0 9
21
a live NTA and AIT pro*
gramme where the winners
of this unique promotion will
be unveiled. The programme
!
Â&#x2030;
*
ners will be aired tomorrow,
_ 'Â&#x160;
six will be announced on
'
'
Â&#x192;
'_ '8Â&#x192;
*

ners will be contacted and
announced on the Facebook
page and twitter handle.
The transformation of the
sports sector remains a key
element of the paradigm
of national transformation
enunciated by President
Goodluck Jonathan. Apart
from reinforcing and
celebrating national unity
sports is a key instrument
!
9
youth empowerment. As a
means of propagating the
successes thus far recorded
in the sector by the Jonathan
administration and rallying
Nigerians behind the Super
Eagles during the upcoming
!!
!
0 9
TAN has created the oppor*
tunity for lucky Nigerians.
The participation process

U

Akanni
involves logging on to TANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
page on face book (www.
facebook.com/tannigeria)
and signing up to get an
application for the promo*
Â&#x2030;
questions. Winners will be
contacted and published on
TANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face book page. This
promotion will strive to be

*
! '
as well as accommodating
the interest of physically
challenged Nigerians.
To be part of the op*
portunity, applicants are
advised to follow the steps

carefully:Visit
Click on the Register now
tab. Fill the Registration form
and submit.Go to your email
!
!!
link, Log in. Click on Apply,
Fill the application form and
submit. Ensure to answer all
questions and complete all
8
Once you have success*
fully applied for the promo,
Like TAN on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/tan*
nigeria, follow on twitter @
tanconnectgroup.

uper Eagles of Nigeria
Head Coach, Stephen
Okechukwu Keshi, was
)&+Â&#x201A;Â&#x201A;Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E;
unveiled as a brand ambassador to one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading beverage makers, Pepsi.
Keshi alongside his assistant and former Super Eagles
teammate for the national
side, Daniel Amokachi and

Super Eagles full back, Elderson Echiejile, was unveiled
amidst cheers from the
audience who thronged the
Spice Route, Adeola Odeku,
Victoria Island, venue of the
event tagged â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pepsi Samba
\Â&#x2026; Â&#x20AC; !
football heroes.
In appreciation, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;big
bossâ&#x20AC;? as Keshi is called

thanked Pepsi for being a
major supporter of the beautiful game of soccer and sports
in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I am on

&
!(
&
"&
when the going gets tough
on the pitch, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when I dig
deep and bring out something
I never knew was there. We
'!
"

he Nigeria Football
and other Sports
Supporters Club
(NFSSC) have launched
a World Cup sticker
campaign titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodluck
to Super Eaglesâ&#x20AC;?.At the
launch of the stickers,
President-General of the
YYÂ&#x2C6;&8"

stated that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodluck
to Super Eagles initiative is
geared towards ensuring
that the Super Eagles get
maximum support during
Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201E; &"%8"
further revealed that aside
the stickers; the club will
" &

*
and t-shirts as a source of

support to the team.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is just the
beginning of what to expect
from the Supporters Club
at the Mundial because
we want to ensure that the
Super Eagles get maximum
support to enable them
5
6Â&#x2026;8"
said.

"
&! (
!
we have 160 million Nigerian
teammates who are cheering
& ' %\"
""
" %Â&#x2026;
Head of Marketing, Seven
X"
"
\+%
Norden Thurston, said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pepsi
is proud to be associated with
these heros of Nigerian football who will be going to the
world stage as African Champions having won the African
&"
&
%Â&#x2019;
&
&!
of Pepsi and win Nigeria the
cup,â&#x20AC;? Thurston said.
A Pepsi football campaign
theme â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Na our time--Naija,â&#x20AC;?
featuring Keshi, Amokachi,
Osaze, Moses and Echijile was
unveiled to the audience at
Y
"%
Commenting on the
campaign, Senior Marketing Manager, PepsiCo, Mr.
Shakeel Akram said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pepsi
&
'Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x192;
million Nigerians to support
(
to Nigeria. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a celebration of
"
"
" !
&
"
Nigeria and the world.â&#x20AC;?
)
&
!&"
\"
Music Ambassadors: Tiwa
Y'6(
8
555
alongside Praize who thrilled
the audience with their sonorous tunes. The event was also
(
&`Y !(
(
W, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kedikeâ&#x20AC;? crooner,
Chidinma, Sean Tizzle and
some other celebrities.

described as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;devastatingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.
_
Â&#x201A;
'
\Â&#x192;
3
responsible for one of the
most controversial moments
of that tournament.
His 85th minute goal
against Slovenia, with the
!
* !*
versially scratched by referee
Koman Coulibaly.
Nigeria play USA on June
7 in Jacksonville, in their
!
'*
fore their opening match of
the World Cup against Iran.

Nwosu
Bolu-Olu Esho, Abeokuta

H

ead Coach of Gate*
way United FC of
Abeokuta, Henry
Nwosu and his assistant,
Yisa Sofoluwe have been
handed an ultimatum to
either start winning away
matches in the current
National League campaign
or risk losing their jobs.
This order was handed
to the duo by Ogun State
Commissioner for Youth
and Sports, Lanre Tejuoso,
on Thursday in Abeokuta
during a ministerial press
Â
anniversary of Governor
Â&#x20AC;
*
*
ministration.
Tejuoso denied rumours
that both coaches had been
!
' *
club, and explained that due
to managementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dissatis*
faction with performance

of the club, some punitive
measures have been arrived
at to put the coaching crew
and players on their toes,
noting that no one has been
axed at the moment.
He expressed his dis*
pleasure about the inability
of the club to win away
matches, which he tacitly
handed down as the condi*
tion for the coaches to retain
their jobs.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we are doing is

**
Â&#x2026;
if we need to penalise, we
only w {!
tight.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to our club
to start winning away
matches, not just home
matches. If they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, then
we will see what to do. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
wait for our next match.
We have our deadline for
everyone in our team,â&#x20AC;? the
commissioner said.

AFN Golden League:
Athletes return to Akure

T

he tartan track of the
X
'
)
{(&!
no doubt, taste more action
from eager athletes, following
the decision of the Athletics
Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to
stage the fourth leg of the Golden
8&
Y%
It will be recalled that this
!
slated to hold in Kaduna.
~ !'& &
concerns, the federation had to

&
8
which served as the venue of the
third leg of the league a fortnight
ago.
The competition was
!
"'
turnout from the hosts who came
out in their numbers to cheer the
' %
{&" !
is expected support the athletes
who are braced to churn out
sterling performances this
weekend.

Saturday Newswatch
www.mydailynewswatchng.com

-Tradition built on Truth

Vol. 02, No. 71

T

Saturday, May 24, 2014

he National Conference has entered its
most critical stage. The committees have
completed their work, and the conference
will now adopt or reject their recommendations in the plenary either by consensus or by
the approval of at least 70% of delegates. It has
therefore, become necessary that we remind
ourselves why the Conference was called, to
enable delegates keep the vision in focus as
they discuss, accept, amend or reject some
recommendations.
From media reports so far, I am worried that
we may have to call another Conference soon
after this. There seems to be neither evolutionary nor revolutionary recommendations on
the table. It is still the same old structures and
systems that brought us where we are, or some
mere cosmetic changes and compromises that I
hear of. The truth is that if we miss the opportunity of using this Conference to correct certain
!!
!
!
our Federation, the next conference may be too
expensive to bear. Obasanjoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Confab, remember, cost the nation one N1billion; this will
cost N7 billion; the next may cost the country
beyond our imagination.
The critical issue is that our Federation is
operating on an unstable foundation, and the
structure is perverted. Since 1966, we have
moved from one crisis to another; sizeable
amount of resources have been wasted in
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8
resources would have been better applied to
the growth and development of the nation.
How long shall we continue in this roller-coaster game which has consumed, and continues to
consume the blood of innocent Nigerians? This
bloodletting must be stopped before we face
Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrath. We must create a nation that we
are all happy to live in. And it is in our hands to
do so now!
I, therefore, take this opportunity to recommend my revised book - NIGERIA: Time for
the evolution of a new nation to all delegates,
and perhaps to the National Assembly and
indeed all Nigerians who will eventually have
to determine the future of our country. I am
praying that we do not miss this opportunity
to evolve a new nation that we all can be proud
of. I will attempt to give a birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye view of the
key issues discussed in the 230-page book.
Aborted dream
Â&#x20AC;
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+!
opinion amongst Nigerians that the country
we have today is neither what our past leaders
struggled to liberate from the colonial masters
nor what we desire that it is in the 21st Century.
The dream we had in 1960 of a great, peaceful
and prosperous nation that will be the hope
of the black man, projecting Africa and being
a leader in the global economy, made an early
start, but faltered fatally, and got aborted or
nearly so. Some of the reasons for the abortion
'
chunk of the burden.
Political reformation imperative
Here, the point is made poignantly that the
evolution of a new Nigeria must start with
Political Reformation. This is the crux of the
matter, and represents the critical assignment
of the National Conference. It is the main issue
which those that clamoured for a Sovereign
National Conference have been harping at. We
badly need to restructure the Federation so that
we can have stability, and a balanced Federation. We posit that the federating units must be
strengthened and the divisive issues of sharing
responsibilities and resources among the tiers
of governments renegotiated to create equity
and fairness, while promoting competition
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8Â&#x192; !
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that there are better ways of conducting politics,
and that the rabid competition for political of!!
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!!
by devolving power to the federating units
while aggressively deregulating and privatizing government business. We must deliberately
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8
Political leadership and governance
Here, the focus is on the central problem
causing our overall underdevelopment, which
is political leadership and governance. A case is

N200

WORDS ON MARBLE
It is as hard and severe a thing to be a true
politician as to be truly moral. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Francis Bacon,
English philosopher (1561-1626)

Entrepreneurial Paradigm
Sam

Ohuabunwa

(OFR)

samohuabunwa@gmail.com

Nigeria:Time for
evolution of new nation
made that we must be painstaking in choosing our leaders, so that the best in character,
discipline, and experience will emerge. Every
political aspirant must be scrutinized before he
becomes a candidate. Even as a candidate, we
must ensure that criminals and novices do not
assume political leadership in our country ever
again. We recommend 24 core competences of
political leadership to serve as a template for
our aspiring political leaders. These include
sound education, capacity to envision, high
level of Intelligence Quotient, high level of
emotional intelligence, ability to translate ideas
into action, ability and willingness to make
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desire to achieve, a keen demonstration of
accountability, humility of spirit, a measurable
ability for hard work and courage, a demon
balance sheet statements and a true fear of
God. We need to device constitutional provisions that will help cleanse our leadership and
governance image.
Political elections and selections
A major fault line in our political practice is
{!'
conducting free and fair elections. Nigeria is notorious for this, and it remains a major destabilising factor in the nation. Many of our national
crises have roots from disputed election results
including the current security crisis. We have,
therefore, made critical suggestions to reform
the electoral process to make it water-tight, so
that all the leakages become blocked. Nigeria
must determine to have credible, fair and free
elections henceforth.
Executive, Legislature and Judiciary: Three
sides of same coin and machinery of governance
On this subject, we explore the responsibilities of the three arms of government and prescribe code of conduct and charter for relationship. We posit that the three arms require major
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of running government so that money can be
left to deliver critical services to the people. It is
Â&#x2019;
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image of being corrupt with undue delays in
concluding court processes; the legislature must
change its image of being over paid with low
productivity, while the executive must shed the
toga of arbitrariness and corruption.
The 2020 Economy: Job creation and poverty

alleviation
Nigeria has been described as a rich country
with poor citizens. We make far reaching suggestions on how to restructure the economy to
achieve double digit growth in a manner that
will result in trickle down, ensuring a fairly
even spread of the national wealth. The focus
must be on job creation and poverty alleviation.
And to achieve this, we must create a most
attractive investment climate, enthrone law and
order, create well-thought-through stable policy
environment, secure lives and property, eliminate corruption, maintain macro-economic stability, create irresistible incentives and encourage massive investments in infrastructure.
Building competitive human capital and
restoring the dignity of man: The social issues
The case is made that the true measure of our
economic growth must be the quality of life of
Nigerians. We cannot be speaking of economic
growth while the standard of living of the

Â&#x2122;
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"
1
''%

Every political aspirant
must be scrutinized
before he becomes a
candidate. Even as a
candidate, we must
ensure that criminals
and novices do not
assume political
leadership in our
country ever again.
We recommend 24 core
competences of political
leadership to serve as a
template for our aspiring
political leaders
average Nigerian is on the decline. Far reaching
proposals are made on how to raise the quality
of human capital through education, healthcare, population control and environmental
management. Some thought is focused on
what the country must do to restore the dignity
of the average Nigerian including some social
welfare provisioning.
Policing and security: Creating safe heaven
The issues of policing and security are in the
front burner of critical national challenges. The
centrality of having a safe and secure nation
as primary governmental responsibility is
underscored. A thorough review of the national
security challenges are presented while a robust
menu of actions that must be taken to re-invent
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to turning our nation into a safe haven. It is
doable!
Creating followership that deserves the
leader: Citizen/corporate responsibilities
This is a fundamental issue that is often
ignored when discussing ways out of our
national challenges. We believe that we need to
reform the followership that will produce the
reformed leaders that we badly seek. To ask the
leaders to reform while the followers remain
unchanged will achieve very little. A holistic
change of attitude by Nigerians through the
inculcation of ennobling values is mandated,
and the means well elucidated.
Conclusion
In 2005, we lost a golden opportunity to set
our nation on the right path for sustainable and
peaceful growth by abandoning the recommendations of the National Political Reform
Conference as tenuous as many of them were.
We could have, at least, averted the many
months of militancy in the Niger Delta and the
huge price we paid. Since then, Nigeria has
undergone one of its biggest crises after the civil
war.
\]1
3!+
another opportunity to re-invent the Nigerian
nation. I urge the delegates, National Assembly
and the entire people of Nigeria to take the bull
by the horn, and evolve a new nation, which
we all will be proud of, and which the International Community will respect. I have created
this nation in my book, and urge our delegates
to read it.
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opportunity on a platter coated by the blood of
innocent Nigerians which has been needlessly
and wantonly shed because of the contradictions, inequities and instability of our Federation as it stands today. May we not look back
years after, and regret that we ought to have
done a better job. God forbid!